Police firearms discharged in only 0.06% of firearms operations

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on Armed Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, said:

“It is a testament to the professionalism of our armed officers that only 0.06 per cent armed deployments end with a firearm actually being discharged. These officers are trained first and foremost to try and resolve incidents without firing a shot. The threat from international terrorism and increases in violent crime have both contributed to an increase in the numbers of armed deployments.  A significant proportion of these will be where armed officers have been deployed as a contingency, for example at public events where there are large crowds in order to keep people safe.”

For press info:
A firearms operation is an operation in which a firearms officer is deployed, but firearms are not necessarily discharged.”