List of police firearms in the United Kingdom

Most British police officers (except in Northern Ireland) are not routinely armed. Instead, they rely on specially trained Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) to attend incidents where firearms are necessary.

Policies Specialist Firearms Officers are usually trained to a higher standard than AFOs, because they are likely to be required to enter besieged premises. All firearms used by British police are semi-automatic, except for certain forces like the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). Firearms used by police officers vary between police forces in the UK.

Police use of force regarding firearms was governed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO, dissolved 2015). The Chief Constable and Police Authority of each force decides the number of firearms officers and type of police firearms available.

In 2010, 5.56x45mm Carbines were widely introduced in case of an attack similar to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Weapons used by Home Office police forces Firearms issued to Authorised Firearms Officers include:

Pistols

+SeriesModelOriginUsersReferencesGlock Glock 17VariousGlock 17MMetropolitan PoliceGlock 19 South Yorkshire Police, Metropolitan PoliceGlock 19MMetropolitan PoliceGlock 26SIG SauerP226Sussex PoliceP229West Midlands Police P320 Lancashire ConstabularyP250Cleveland PoliceEssex PoliceSIG Pro Heckler & KochHeckler & Koch SFP9 Staffordshire Police

Submachine guns

+SeriesOriginUsersNotesReferencesHeckler & Koch MP5Metropolitan PoliceVariants include fixed stock A2, retractable stock A3, and compact MP5K variants, with the Metropolitan Police also having access to suppressed versions. While normally issued in semi-automatic MP5SF form, select-fire versions are available.Thames Valley PoliceGreater Manchester PoliceCheshire ConstabularyNorth Wales PoliceSussex PoliceSurrey PoliceWest Midlands Police

Automatic rifles

SeriesOriginUsersReferencesHeckler & Koch G36Metropolitan PoliceCity of London PoliceJane's Police Review, 4 March 2007https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018835-2025Police Scotland North Yorkshire PoliceCleveland PoliceDyfed–Powys PoliceBedfordshire PoliceKent PoliceNorthumbria PoliceSouth Wales PoliceNorthamptonshire Police Surrey PoliceCheshire ConstabularyNorth Wales PoliceEssex PoliceLancashire ConstabularyNorfolk ConstabularyGloucestershire Constabularyhttps://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/force-content/gloucestershire/careers/police-officer/police-officer-recruitment-booklet.pdf#page=17]Merseyside PoliceGreater Manchester PoliceLMT DefenderHampshire ConstabularyThames Valley PoliceLMT LM7Northumbria PoliceHK53Cumbria ConstabularySIG SG 551West Mercia PoliceSIG SG 552Derbyshire ConstabularySIG SG 553West Yorkshire PoliceStaffordshire PoliceSIG Sauer SIG516VariousSIG Sauer SIG716Metropolitan PoliceHeckler & Koch HK416 West Mercia PoliceWarwickshire PoliceCumbria ConstabularySIG Sauer MCXMetropolitan PoliceDerbyshire ConstabularyWest Yorkshire PoliceWest Midlands PolicePolice ScotlandNorthumbria PoliceLancashire ConstabularyDaniel Defense MK18Cleveland PoliceDurham PoliceNorth Yorkshire PoliceGreater Manchester Police

Sniper rifles ModelOriginUsersReferencesHeckler & Koch G3Metropolitan PoliceHeckler & Koch PSG-1Heckler & Koch HK417Surrey PoliceEssex PoliceRuger Precision RifleNorthumbria PoliceRemington 700 Accuracy International Arctic WarfareMetropolitan PoliceEssex PoliceCheshire ConstabularyNorth Wales PoliceTikka T3Essex Police

Shotguns ModelOriginUsersReferencesRemington 870Greater Manchester PoliceBenelli M3 Super 90Metropolitan PoliceBenelli NovaEssex PoliceBenelli SupernovaUnknown pump-action shotgunCheshire ConstabularyNorth Wales PoliceWest Midlands Police

Riot guns

ModelOriginUsersNotesReferencesHeckler & Koch HK69A1Metropolitan PoliceUsed as the L104A1/A2 37mm riot gun for baton rounds with attenuating energy projectile and discriminating irritant projectile roundsKent PoliceSouth Wales PoliceDyfed–Powys PoliceHampshire ConstabularyThames Valley PoliceLancashire ConstabularyNorthumbria PoliceEssex Police

Northern Ireland Unlike territorial police forces in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the Garda Síochána in the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, all Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are trained to use firearms and are routinely armed while on duty, as were those of the preceding Royal Ulster Constabulary; many officers also carry firearms while off duty. ModelOriginTypeStatusReferencesRuger Speed-SixRevolverRetiredSterling submachine gunSubmachine gunRuger AC-556RifleHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunHeckler & Koch G3Assault rifleHeckler & Koch HK33Glock 17Semi-automatic pistolCurrentHeckler & Koch G36Assault rifleHeckler & Koch HK69A1Grenade launcherSig Sauer MCXAssault rifleCurrent

Weapons used by non-Home Office police forces

British Transport Police Most British Transport Police officers are unarmed. British Transport Police ARV officers carry: ModelOriginTypeReferencesGlock 17Semi-automatic pistolLMT CQB 10.5" SBRAssault rifleSIG MCXSIG Sauer SIG716

Belfast Harbour Police Like the PSNI, Belfast Harbour Police officers are issued the Glock 17 pistol.

Belfast International Airport Constabulary ModelOriginTypeGlock 17Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunHeckler & Koch G36Assault rifle

Civil Nuclear Constabulary All Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) officers are trained as Authorised Firearms Officers and are routinely armed while carrying out their duties. CNC officers carry: ModelOriginTypeReferencesGlock 17Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunHeckler & Koch G36Assault rifleLMT LM7 CNC officers also operate the armament on board the ships of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited, which specialise in transporting spent nuclear fuel and reprocessed uranium on behalf of the British Nuclear Fuels organisation.

Such ships have an on-board escort of armed police. The Civil Nuclear Constabulary use a range of heavier weapons up to automatic cannon of 30mm calibre deployed on the ships.

Ministry of Defence Police All Ministry of Defence Police officers are required to pass a firearms module during training (with marine units receiving additional firearms training that is specific to their role) and are routinely armed unless they are posted to Crime Command. ModelOriginTypeStatusReferencesBrowning Hi-PowerSemi-automatic pistolRetiredSIG Sauer P229Under replacementGlock 17Future standard pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunRetiredHeckler & Koch MP7Under replacementColt Canada C8Assault rifleFuture standard issue weaponL85A2Under replacementLMT LM7Current

Overseas British Territories and Crown Dependencies Police Forces

Bermuda Police Service ModelOriginTypeReferencesGlock 17Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunM16 rifleAssault rifleM4 carbineRemington 870Shotgun

Royal Cayman Islands Police Service +ModelOriginTypeTaser X26Electroshock weaponSpringfield Armory XDSemi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch MP5Submachine gunHeckler & Koch G36CAssault rifleSIG Sauer SIG516

Isle of Man Constabulary +ModelOriginTypeGlock 17Semi-automatic pistolHeckler & Koch HK416Assault rifle

Historical firearms In the past, police have been issued: ModelOriginTypeReferencesWebley RevolverRevolverSmith & Wesson Model 10Smith & Wesson Model 36Beretta M1951Semi-automatic pistolBrowning Hi-PowerSten GunSubmachine gunSterling Mark 6 "Police"Heckler & Koch MP5Remington 870ShotgunLee–EnfieldRifleParker Hale SafariRuger Mini-14Heckler & Koch HK53Steyr AUG Heckler & Koch G36

References