Armed Policing Reference Material

Armed Policing — Authorised Professional Practice

Summary

The Armed Policing APP provides a comprehensive framework covering various aspects of armed law enforcement, including legislation, weapons and equipment, command and deployment. Key areas include the legal framework governing armed policing, the use of firearms and less-lethal options, and deployment strategies for Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs). It emphasizes the importance of command structures during armed deployment and outlines protocols related to the discharge of firearms and post-deployment procedures. Specific references are made to various guidelines and publications crucial for training and operational effectiveness.

Key principles

1Comprehensive legal framework for armed policing
2Clear guidelines on use of force and weapons
3Protocols for deployment of AFOs
4Emphasis on command and control during armed incidents
5Post-deployment guidelines and assessments

Defined terms

Attenuating energy projectile information sheet: Available via Knowledge Hub.
National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC): Not hyperlinked, access is restricted to authorised members of the police service.
Armed policing strategic threat and risk assessment (APSTRA): Available via Knowledge Hub.

Full guidance

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

Armed policing APP contains references to the following.

'Attenuating energy projectile information sheet' (available via Knowledge Hub). * Centre for Applied Science and Technology. (2017). CAST Guidance Note 139/16. 'Storage of ammunition and explosives in police facilities' (refer to CAST for authorised access). . * College of Policing – Code of Ethics . * College of Policing. (2020). Code of Practice on Armed Policing and the Police use of Less Lethal Weapons . * College of Policing. (2020). 'Stay safe: Keeping the public and unarmed responders safe at incidents involving the use, or suspected use, of potentially lethal weapons or firearms, active shooters and marauding terrorist attack' (available via College Learn). * Crown Prosecution Service. (2007). Corporate Manslaughter(opens an external website in the same tab) . . * Defence Scientific Advisory Council Sub-Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (DOMILL). (2011). Statement on the Medical Implications of Use of the Taser X26 and M26 Less-Lethal Systems on Children and Vulnerable Adults(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2012). * 'Direction on the compilation of armed policing strategic threat and risk assessments (APSTRAs) 2019' (available on the Knowledge Hub). . . * Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. (2017). Taser: Clinical effects and management of those subjected to Taser discharge(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (1992). The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2002). * HM Advocate v Doherty 1954 JC 1 (not hyperlinked). * Home Office. (2011). Publication no. 47/11. Portable ballistic protection for UK police(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Home Office. (2017). Publication no. 012/17. Body armour standard(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (1992). Publication no. 21/92. 'Noise levels and hearing protection for blank ammunition' (not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (1997). Publication no. 15/97. 'A guide to ear defenders for firearms training' (restricted, not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (1998). 'The humane destruction of animals by police' (not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (2001). Publication no. 06/01. 'Optical sights for use with Police Firearms' (not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (2004). Publication no. 92/04. 'Evaluation of Respirators for Specialist Police Firearms Operations' (restricted, not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (2007). 'Body armour standards for UK police, part 2: Ballistic resistance' (not hyperlinked). * Home Office Scientific Development Branch. (2007). 'Body armour standards for UK police, part 3: Knife and spike resistance 39-07-C' (not hyperlinked). * Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. (1999). A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Independent Office for Police Conduct. Police Witness Policy (not hyperlinked). * Joint Committee on Human Rights. (2004). Deaths in Custody, Third Report(opens an external website in the same tab) . . . * National Police Chiefs' Council. National Armed Policing Portfolio (via email). (available via College Learn). * National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (not hyperlinked, access is restricted to authorised members of the police service). . * Palmer v The Queen \[1971\] AC 814 (not hyperlinked) . * Police Service of Northern Ireland. (2008). PSNI Code of Ethics(opens an external website in the same tab) . * [R (ex parte Amin) v Secretary of State for the Home Department \[2003\] UKHL 51 (the Zahid Mubarek case)(opens an external website in the same tab)](http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2003/51.html) . . . * Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons. (2016), Statement on the medical implications of use of the Taser X2 conducted energy device system(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Storage of ammunition and explosives in police facilities. March 2017 (CAST publication 139/16) (Refer to CAST for authorized access) * Taser role profiles 2012 (not hyperlinked). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2005). The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2002). The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2006). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2008). Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1967). Criminal Law Act 1967(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1967). Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2002). The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2015). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1989). The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1968). Firearms Act 1968(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1974). Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1981). The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2013). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1998). Human Rights Act 1998(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1999). The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2006). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2005). The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1992). The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2002). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1984). Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1989). The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2020). Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1997). The Police (Health and Safety) Act 1997(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1999). The Police (Health and Safety) Regulations 1999(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2002). Police Reform Act 2002(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2014). Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2000). The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1998). The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2000). Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2000). Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1995). The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2005). The Work at Height Regulations 2005(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2007). * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1992). The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992(opens an external website in the same tab) (as amended 2002). * United Nations. (1990). Basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials(opens an external website in the same tab) .

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.