M
Member
Speaking in the House of Lords on 11 March 2026
Debate
Crime and Policing BillContribution
Section 76 of the Criminal Justice Act 2008 currently fails to do so. Under that section, the degree of force used by a police firearms officer is not to be regarded as reasonable in the circumstances, even if the officer honestly believed that it was, if, with the benefit of hindsight, it is judged to have been disproportionate. It is not surprising that police officers are being deterred from volunteering for firearms training. The National Police Chiefs’ Council says that police forces across England and Wales are grappling with a significant shortage of firearms officers, exacerbated by the lack of legal protections afforded to armed officers, particularly regarding criminal and misconduct hearings.
About Hansard
Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.
Partner sites