Assistant Commissioner John Yates – who chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee – has said heavier ballistic weaponry should be available to those on the front lines of serious incidents.
It has been confirmed that the Specialist Firearms Command of the Metropolitan Police now has crews in armed response vehicles trained to use the G36, although the weapon will only be “deployed in specific circumstances”.
The Force would not confirm when the rifle had been introduced except that the decision had “been taken based on learning from terrorist attacks around the world”.
The latest weapon, versions of which are in service with the German and Spanish armed forces, will complement the MP5 Carbine and Glock pistol already in use with the Met.
Richard Jones, Resource Manager with the Leeds-based National Firearms Centre, said the rifle would be of particular use in tough urban situations.
He told SecurityOracle.com: “Many law enforcement agencies have gone down this route – it makes sense and introduction of the G36 reflects current perceptions.”
“The 9mm round fired by the Glock and MP5 is effective for the package the weapons are designed for – that is hostage rescue, room clearance and situations where you do not need the enhanced capability of a rifle calibre round.
“The G36 provides an option that will defeat targets with a degree of consistency. This rifle has become a leader in military and law enforcement applications.” |
