Will Rookie Olympic Gun Cops Be Backed-Up By The French?

An experienced police firearms officer has revealed the two-week compulsory course, which all officers must complete, is being squeezed into two days due to Olympic pressures.

We also face the prospect of armed French police on the streets of the capital to make up the numbers of required firearms officers on duty during the games.

Authorised Firearms Officers must complete a basic two-week course in the Glock 17 self-loading pistol and the Heckler and Koch 9mm handgun.

"The public has been placed in a heightened state of danger," warned the Met PC. "I'd rather have the copper with the training and no gun than the gun and no training.

"If he has to draw that weapon there is the potential for innocent bystanders to be placed in greater danger."

So far the Metropolitan Police have failed to answer questions regarding firearms training for the Olympics and whether French police have been requested to cover the shortfall of qualified officers.

"Most of the officers on call are going to be ill-trained bobbies who know nothing about guns or the powers they have to use that weapon."

The two-week course involves exercises covering the use of firearms in simulated real-life situations and the appropriate use of force in challenging circumstances.

Also covered is the knowledge and extent of police powers and legislation.

"They did not have the time four years ago, because of the volume of officers they had to push through, to stick to the usual two-week course," added the officer.

"We are talking about being short by a thousand to cover this event. Remember, there are only five thousand Authorised Firearms Officers in the whole country.

Police officers have come under pressure to undertake armed Olympic duty.

"You cannot simply rely on volunteers for this, there would not be enough coming forward. A lot of officers do not want to carry guns, it is a big ask.

"This is all last minute, they are handing out guns like sweets and hoping to God nothing happens.

"It is a late dash to come up with the numbers and come the Olympics we are going to have French armed officers on the streets."

The two-day course is hopelessly inadequate to properly train the Olympic firearms team, added the PC.

"These guys are just going to be crowd-pleasers. They probably won't even be able to get the guns out of the holsters, they simply have not had the time to practise this."