Schism within Met Police ranks has SAS, soldiers 'on standby'
This comes after a murder charge was filed against an officer in connection with the shooting of Chris Kaba in Streatham Hill.
The SAS and conventional soldiers were put "on standby" following a revolt by armed police, which could lead to the Army being deployed to the streets of London for the first time in over 100 years.
The Metropolitan Police is dealing with a growing crisis as numerous officers have stopped performing firearms duties in response to a murder charge against one of their fellow officers.
Over 100 officers have reportedly surrendered their firearm permits, leading Scotland Yard to seek military support.
Authorities are concerned that the revolt could potentially extend to other regions of the UK amid reports of firearms officers in other police forces declining to assist as a token of solidarity with their Metropolitan Police counterparts.
This crisis unfolded after an unnamed officer faced a murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba, an unarmed young man who was killed in Streatham Hill, South London, in September of the previous year. Chris Kaba was a 24-year-old expectant father pursuing a career as an architect.
Sir Mark Rowley, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has called for enhanced legal protections for police officers and has expressed support for a review of the situation initiated by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, urging her to allow the police to carry out their duties.
He stated in a letter, "In the UK we proudly police by consent, embracing the principles of accountability, transparency and independent scrutiny. It is essential that we have a system which commands the confidence of officers and the communities they serve. Of course, where wrongdoing takes place the public expect us to be held to the highest standards."
"I have been clear on this in all areas of policing, and the use of force must be no exception. The system that judges officers' actions should be rooted in integrity and decisions should be reached swiftly, competently and without fear or favour," the letter added.
Rishi Sunak expressed, on Monday, the view that armed police require a clear understanding of their legal authority, and he endorsed the review led by the Home Secretary.
While speaking to the media on a visit to a community center in Hertfordshire, the Prime Minister stated, "Our firearms officers do an incredibly difficult job."
"Now it is important when they are using these legal powers that they do so with clarity and they have certainty about what they are doing, especially given the lethality they are using," he added.
It is worth noting that the metropolitan police has been under condemnation following a string of scandals of misconduct involving racism, sexism, rape, and murder.
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