Weapons

The armoury provides every department with sidearms, less-than-lethal options, and specialist long guns. Your available selection depends on your rank, and in some cases, your current department.

Before Deploying a Weapon

Select equipment for the patrol and risks you reasonably expect, not simply the strongest option available:

• Know which weapon you have drawn before aiming or firing
• Keep firearms secured until the circumstances justify presenting them
• Allow room for other officers to use less-than-lethal equipment without creating a crossfire
• Reassess after every use of force and transition down as soon as the threat allows it

Tasers

A Taser is the standard less-than-lethal option for an actively resistant or aggressive subject when communication and physical control are unlikely to be enough. Consider the subject's surroundings before deploying it, including traffic, heights, fire, and any other hazard that could turn a fall into a serious injury.

Handguns

Handguns are lethal-force sidearms. They should be drawn only when you can articulate a threat that may require lethal force, and fired only when an imminent threat to life leaves no safer reasonable option.

Shotguns

The armoury carries two Shrewsbury Sentinel variants with very different purposes. The standard Sentinel is lethal, while the clearly marked Sentinel (LTL) is less-than-lethal.

Rifles

Rifles are lethal-force weapons for high-risk incidents where officers reasonably need their greater capability. Deploying one should be a deliberate response to the threat, with particular care given to distance, backdrop, other officers, and members of the public.

Less-Than-Lethal Launcher

The 40mm launcher gives trained officers a longer-range less-than-lethal option. It can still cause serious injury, so use it only against a suitable threat, maintain a clear line of fire, and follow the same proportionality and reassessment expected with every other force option.

After Using Force

Once the threat is under control, stop using force, secure the subject and any weapons, and arrange medical assistance where needed. Protect the scene and provide an honest account of what you perceived, why the force was necessary, and when it ended.