SCO-19

What is SCO-19?

The Specialist Firearms Command is the firearms unit of the Metropolitan Police Service. The Command is responsible for providing a firearms-response capability, assisting the rest of the service which is not routinely armed. They are full-time units whose members do not perform any other duties. SCO-19 are are willing to deal with many situations around the city such as traffic stops and pursuits, however please understand that firearm and gang related issues are what we prioritze.

Rank Structure & Responsibilities

• Specialist Firearms Command [SFC] - The Division Commanders are responsible for running the whole of SCO19, they have the final decision on punishment and equipment usage within the division. Division Commanders are the most experienced and mature officer within SCO19 so they ensure training is completed to high standards and make sure those standards stay high. When on scene, division commanders can take the lead of a situation if they feel like it needs it or if it is a hostage situation where a high value target’s life is at stake (e.g Commissioner, Prime Minister). DC can drive any of the SCO19 cars they choose and can drive alone.

• Specialist Firearms Officer / Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers - CTSFOs are another proactive element of SCO19. Their role includes counter terrorism and hostage rescue. Like TSTs, CTSFO teams provide firearms support to other Met specialist units and may operate in both an overt and covert manner. CTSFO teams are on standby to respond to a major crime. CTSFO units may be called to storm buildings, planes, buses, trains and boats, both docked and underway. These operations require that CTSFOs receive a higher level of training than the Tactical Support Teams. Like TST Officers, CTSFOs have served as ARV Officers before going through their own extensive selection and training process.

• Tactical Support Team [TST] - Tactical Support Teams (TST) consist of experienced ARV officers trained to provide support to other Met units. TSTs are a more proactive SCO19 element i.e. they tend to carry out authorized, pre-planned, intelligence-led operations. These may include performing high-risk arrests and raiding criminal establishments where the presence of firearms is suspected. They may be deployed as armed backup for operations by specialist Met units such as the surveillance units

• Trojan Proactive Unit [TPU] - Trojan Proactive Units carry out high visibility ARV patrols in crime hotspots, in an effort to deter criminal activity. This is a relatively small unit, comprising some 24 officers split into 2 teams. TPU Officers have been seconded from regular ARV duty.

• Armed Response Unit [ARU] - Armed Response Vehicle, or 'Trojans' respond to spontaneous incidents involving firearms. To enable fast pursuit and arrival times, BMW cars, fitted with state-of-the-art satellite navigation and communications gear are the vehicle of choice for the ARV teams. ARVs will patrol known trouble areas, waiting to move in when needed. ARV units are usually crewed by 3 Armed Response Officers: driver, communications operator and observer/navigator.

Negotiations

Hostage Value Guide

• Special Constable : £12,000

• Civilian : £5,00

• Police Constable : £10,000

• Senior Constable : £15,000

• Sergeant : £20,000

• Inspector : £25,000

• Chief Inspector : £30,000

• Superintendent : £35,000

• Chief Superintendent : £40,000

• Commander : £50,000

• Assistant Commissioner : £55,000

• Deputy Commissioner : £60,000

• Commissioner : £65,000

Common SCO-19 Acts

• Searching for firearms - Section 47, Firearms Act 1968

• Possession of a firearm - Section 5, Firearms Act 9168

• Possession of a bladed article - Section 139, Criminal Justice Act 1988

• Possession of Offensive Weapon - Section 1, Prevention of Crime Act 1953

• Power to seize items - Section 19, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Breaching Teams

ALPHA = First on scene.

• Alfa team will be head of making contact, this team needs to be filled first before the other teams first. The role of Alpha team is meeting demands within the current SOGs as listed above and scene command. Preferably a negotiator trained officer is in this team and if not then as soon as one becomes available he joins this team first even if one of the officers in this team be sent to another to make room.

• Requirements for this team will consist of a minimum of two officers and a maximum of three officers assigned will be one officer makes contact with the others there to back him/her up if needed and to relay to Bravo and Charlie teams what is going on letting the negotiator manage the talks ongoing. This team must consist of SCO19 Officers only. With the exception of any negotiator trained officer arriving if SCO19 do not have one

BRAVO

• Bravo team will be the securing inner Corden team which will be the immediate vicinity around the building blocking off escape routes if there are no other escape routes or entrances then they are to be situated either side of the building and hidden or if permitted by a higher rank SFO or above on the roof of the building.

• Their main goal or purpose is, in case the worst case scenario plays out and Alpha is compromised they will be close enough to move in quickly and secure the premises with Alpha team. Also should Alpha team withdraw i.e. to let the suspects out then Bravo team will have them covered from their hidden positions and can engage once the Alpha team confirm the hostages are secure or no longer in immediate threat of unlawful violence Bravo and Alpha team should be making the arrest if conditions allow.

Charlie

• This role depending on Alpha teams actions will be the best and safest place to be this will be situated on the outer Corden and is primarily to be used as additional assisting resources like NPAS, Interceptors and NBOs main purpose of this is to provide an RVP for LAS (NHS) if they arrive, along with to keep members of the public out of harm's way and finally for interceptors and other units to be in there cars ready to go if a pursuit entails. Charlie team are to never enter the inner Corden unless directed by ALPHA team and should a pursuit entails they will be the first initiating the pursuit and take over on the pursuit SOGs regarding numbers in command and managing risk if it is safe to continue.