Soldiers were on Monday on duty in London ready to help police respond to a terrorist attack as a protest by armed Met officers forced Scotland Yard to call in military assistance.
The dramatic move – which involves soldiers being stationed alongside Met officers available to rush to the scene of any terror incident – came as Scotland Yard tried to plug gaps left by the decision of around 100 firearms police to down tools.
The officers – who carry weapons voluntarily to protect Londoners from armed criminals and terrorists – have told the Met that they are unwilling to carry on after the Crown Prosecution Service decision to charge one of their colleagues with the murder of Chris Kaba.
He was shot dead in Streatham Hill last September by an armed Met officer, known only as NX121, who will now face trial and a potential life sentence.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has responded by calling for an overhaul of the way in which police are held to account over firearms incidents and other use of force, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ordered a review of armed policing, saying that officers risking their lives “mustn’t fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties.”
The words of support were insufficient to stave off an immediate crisis, however, as the Met faced a shortfall in its capacity to perform its counter-terrorism role and tasks responding to incidents involving armed criminals.
The words of support were insufficient to stave off an immediate crisis, however, as the Met faced a shortfall in its capacity to perform its counter-terrorism role and tasks responding to incidents involving armed criminals.
But the most significant deployment involved soldiers put on standby to respond to any London terror attack over the coming days following a request by Scotland Yard and the Home Office for assistance from the Ministry of Defence.
Sources emphasised that the soldiers would not be patrolling the capital and were likely to remain out sight unless a terrorist incident occurs, but had been asked to operate alongside Met firearms officers routinely on standby to deal with any attack.