Met Spokesman:
“All members of the firearms unit are volunteers and whilst we fully understand their concerns, we are urging them to reconsider. Our paramount concern is the protection of the public and all our officers.”
Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation:
“The decision to suspend the two officers involved in the Harry Stanley incident has provoked anger and disquiet among their colleagues. Firearms officers have one of the most demanding and difficult jobs in policing. It is dangerous, requires a high degree of skill and can place them in situations where they have to take split-second decisions over life and death.”
Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales:
“I am not surprised that firearms officers in London have taken this step after two of their colleagues were suspended for an incident that any one of them could have faced. With the benefit of hindsight we can all say what we may have done but these two officers were required to make a split-second assessment and decision.”
