JB-15.7 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Recording and documentation of firearms planning meetings and briefings

Recommendation

MPS Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be amended so that: a. Notes and/or audio recordings should be made of all meetings in relation to general strategy where it is envisaged that firearms may or will be deployed during the course of a planned operation, and training given to explain why it is so important – for reasons of accountability and to establish an audit trail. b. Such notes should include the date, location and duration of the meeting, the identity of those present, the capacity in which they are attending, and details of decisions made and actions accepted or rejected. c. All planning meetings should be properly minuted and the minutes thereof should be centrally retained. d. All briefings relating to firearms operations should be audio-recorded unless it is not reasonably practicable on the grounds of sensitivity of information/intelligence to do so, in which case they should be minuted in the same way as planning meetings.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)'s report on 28 October 2022, it had issued internal guidance to all Senior Firearms Commanders (SFCs) and Tactical Firearms Commanders (TFCs) concerning comprehensive minutes for planning meetings. According to the MPS's report, the MPS also stated that the recording of firearms briefings remained under review with the College of Policing. According to the College of Policing's APP-AP update from August 2023, this recommendation was being reported as in progress. No further published evidence has been identified since August 2023.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, web.archive.org, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
15.7
Response
Accepted
Accepted Metropolitan Police Service
28 Oct 2022

MPS formally responded on 28 October 2022 (paras 17-20). Internal guidance issued to all SFCs and TFCs on comprehensive minutes for planning meetings. PUoF SOP consistent with APP-AP. Recording of firearms briefings still under review with College of Policing.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
01 Aug 2023

Status as of College of Policing APP-AP update (August 2023): In Progress

Source
Report Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker 05 Jul 2022
Responsible Bodies
Metropolitan Police Service Primary
Recommendation age 3.7 yrs
Last formal update 966 days ago