Firearms unit

Firearms unit
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Varies
Type	Law enforcement
Role	Use of police firearms and Domestic counter-terrorism
Size	Varies
Commanders
Current commander	Varies

A firearms unit is an armed unit within each territorial police force in the United Kingdom. For the most part, the police forces of the United Kingdom are unarmed; however, all have firearms units to provide the police force with the capability to deal with terrorists and armed criminals. A police officer cannot apply to join the firearms unit without first finishing their two-year probationary period, with a further two years in a core policing role. Firearms unit is the most common name outside of the capital, while that of London's Metropolitan Police Service is called the Specialist Firearms Command, or SCO19. Within the media it is sometimes compared to the SWAT units of the United States.

Criminals are less likely to carry firearms due to United Kingdom gun laws, and the presence of an armed officer can often be enough to negotiate their surrender. The Thames Valley Police has only used a firearm against a suspect once in its entire history.

Only three forces in the United Kingdom routinely arm officers due to the nature of their work; the Ministry of Defence Police who are responsible law enforcement on MOD property, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary who guard civil nuclear facilities, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

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