The amazing array of kit used by anti-terror officers on the streets of the UK
The heavily-armed officers are part of a new wave of 600 marksmen targeting ISIS
TERRORISTS beware as these are the new super cops who are on duty 24/7 working to keep the capital safe from horror attacks.
The heavily armed unit are part of a new wave of 600 highly trained marksmen deployed onto the streets of London from today.
Clad in grey Kevlar body armour they carry state-of-the-art weapons including sniper rifles, automatic assault rifles, handguns, submachine guns and tasers.
The elite armed response teams will also be trained to operate on water, and to abseil down onto buildings.
They will also carry state-of-the art support gear including battering rams and heavy duty cutting equipment.
Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the first of the force's additional 600 marksmen, put in place following terror attacks in mainland Europe, are trained and operationally ready.
Speaking in Hyde Park, Sir Bernard said: "People aren't fools - they know that in the event that there is a firearms attack, we are going to have to respond with firearms.
"They pass through airports where we have armed officers, they pass through railway stations where they see firearms.
"In some of our big iconic locations, we've already got armed patrols - if you look at Parliament, Downing Street - so it's not entirely new.
"I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who've got guns, we've got to have guns.
"It's unusual, but it's an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we've got the guns, and if we have to use them we've got people well-equipped to do that."
The latest Home Office figures show there were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of March 31 2016 - down by eight compared with the previous year, when there were 5,647.
It means the number has dwindled by more than 1,000 in the past five years.
National lead for firearms Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said in July that the majority of new marksmen will be in place by April 2017.
In London, Scotland Yard's existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have "a significant uplift" in place by the end of the year.
Plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of attacks including the atrocity in Paris at the end of last year, when 130 people were killed.
Related Stories
Sir Bernard said: "The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes.
"Despite the fact they are carrying guns, they are still police officers, and I want the public to approach and talk to them - they are out on our streets to reassure and help the public.
"Equally important in how we protect our capital is the relationship that our mainly unarmed officers have built with communities over many years. Our communities are a vital source of information and if you have fears or concerns then we want to know."
The Scotland Yard boss wrote a newspaper article on Sunday in which he hailed neighbourhood policing as "our major weapon" in the fight against terrorism.
Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger. They are our heroes
Met Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe
Experts have said that police in France, which has been hit by a spate of terrorist atrocities, have struggled to contain the threat, partly because of their lack of community relationships.
In London, neighbourhood coverage has been boosted, and on Wednesday mayor Sadiq Khan said each ward will get an additional dedicated constable.
Sir Bernard said: "We need good relationships with the public, we need them to tell us when they're worried about individuals. One of the ways we get that information is you know your local neighbourhood officer.
"We've all faced budgetary cuts and we've all faced some hard decisions. Every force has to make its own decisions, but we've made ours clear."
As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day.
They are trained to operate on water and to abseil, and some teams operate on motorbikes.
