JB-15.20 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Process for firearms officer return to duty after fatal shooting

Recommendation

There needs to be proper and objective consideration by the NPCC as to whether, and if so when, it is appropriate for a firearms officer to return to active deployment following their part in a fatal shooting. Such consideration must always occur at an appropriately senior level in the organisation and take account of the views of the family of the deceased and all relevant public interest matters. A proper audit trail must be kept of the process.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) was tasked with establishing a process for considering the return to active deployment of firearms officers after a fatal shooting. While no formal NPCC response has been published, a Police Accountability Rapid Review, prompted by the W80/Baker case, was published in October 2025. This review led to the government accepting a recommendation to raise the use of force test in misconduct cases from a civil to a criminal standard, with changes to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 intended for Spring 2026. The College of Policing's APP-AP update in August 2023 had previously indicated this recommendation was 'In Progress.'
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 24 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
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
15.20
Response
Accepted
Accepted Metropolitan Police Service Initial Response
28 Oct 2022

MPS formally responded on 28 October 2022 (para 38). MPS considers this a national recommendation and did not consider it appropriate to respond at this stage.

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Accepted National Police Chiefs Council Follow-up
28 Oct 2022

No formal NPCC response published. MPS response (28 October 2022, para 38) noted this is a national recommendation. Requires NPCC to establish process for considering when a firearms officer should return to active deployment following a fatal shooting.

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Progress Timeline
government_response
23 Oct 2025

Police Accountability Rapid Review published October 2025 (Tim Godwin and Sir Adrian Fulford), directly prompted by the W80/Baker case. Government accepted recommendation to raise use of force test in misconduct cases from civil to criminal standard. Changes to Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 intended for Spring 2026. W80 misconduct hearing concluded 15 October 2025 with panel finding no case to answer.

Source
Official Report
01 Aug 2023

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

Source
Source
Inquiry Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Report Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker 05 Jul 2022
View Source
Responsible Bodies
National Police Chiefs Council Primary
Themes & Tags
Police misconduct sanctions Staff suitability and fitness Armed Policing Welfare Accountability
Recommendation age 3.7 yrs
Last formal update 23 Oct 2025