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Extra armed police needed to protect the UK from terrorists could take TWO YEARS to recruit

There are 15 per cent fewer firearms officers today than there were in 2009

IT could take at least two years to get the additional armed officers needed to protect UK, the Police Federation has warned.

Steve White, chair of the rank and file body, said some forces are struggling to get the right quality of volunteers to go through the rigorous selection and training process.

1,500 extra armed police are needed to protect the UK
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1,500 extra armed police are needed to protect the UKCredit: PA:Press Association

He added: “Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don’t meet the criteria.

“It is vitally important that standards are maintained.

“The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers.

“If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident.

“We’ve got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time.”

Only one in five of those who apply to become firearms officers are successful
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Only one in five of those who apply to become firearms officers are successfulCredit: Getty Images

The Met’s SCO19 firearms unit say they are satisfied with the number and quality of candidates to come forward.

However, sources say the Met's hopes of receiving 3,000 applicants to undergo the selection process have been dashed with just 750 officers applying.

One source said: “It is nowhere near enough as only one in five applicants is normally deemed suitable to become an Authorised Firearms Officer.

The Police Federation has warned it may take two years to get enough armed officers
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The Police Federation has warned it may take two years to get enough armed officersCredit: Getty Images

“We have seen what happened in Nice when the only way of stopping that truck was with armed officers.

“The reality is that if the same thing happened here then there would not be enough cover to stop it in its tracks.

“It is a serious concern.’’

Recruitment problems have been blamed on lengthy legal proceedings and arrests of officers who discharge firearms in life and death situations on duty.

Mark Williams, chief executive of the Police Firearms Officers Association, which is assisting forces to help recruit, said : “The sticking point seems to be the way in which discharges of firearms are investigated.

There are 15 per cent fewer armed officers now than there were in 2009
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There are 15 per cent fewer armed officers now than there were in 2009Credit: PA:Press Association

“Officers need more reassurance from the IPCC that they will be treated correctly and not made to feel they are criminals.”

Some top brass fear that a major terrorist attack in the UK could herald the beginning of an armed police force.

But ex-Met firearms officer Mr Williams said: “I don’t believe we need a fully armed service, but we need more armed officers.

“We need to be able to reassure the public that we have a prompt and local armed response to any type of attack.”

The police have said that if there is a terrorist attack, it is unlikely to be isolated
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The police have said that if there is a terrorist attack, it is unlikely to be isolatedCredit: Getty Images

Plans to increase the number of armed police were put in place in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks in November last year, when 130 innocent people were killed.

At present, there are around 6,000 trained firearms officers in the UK - 15 per cent LESS than in 2009.

And Home Office figures for the year to March 2016 showed that the number of armed officers in England and Wales DROPPED by eight.

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