Metropolitan Police receives just six applications in latest armed officer recruitment drive as hundreds quit after cop charged with murder of Chris Kaba

•  The lack of new recruits follows one in 10 members of the force quitting

The Metropolitan Police received just six applications during its most recent armed officer recruitment drive as hundreds quit following an officer being charged with the murder of Chris Kaba.

The Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) is made up of around 2,500 Met police officers who work as volunteers with no extra pay. On top of the half a dozen who applied to join the Specialist Firearms Command, more than 250 AFOs left the unit between April and December last year.

With around one in 10 of the members quitting, Britain’s largest police force is concerned its AFOs officers will be unable to meet their commitments to keep London’s streets safe by patrolling the capital 24/7.

In contrast to the recent departures, only 22 armed officers left in the 12-month period leading up to March 2023.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that the recruitment drive has become so difficult that the force is now inviting officers who are still in probation to apply – although they will have to be fully qualified before they can go out on patrol.

Metropolitan police officers (stock image). Just half a dozen officers applied to join the Specialist Firearms Command in the most recent recruitment drive

The number carrying weapons dropped by more than 250 between April and December 2023 amid widespread anger within the force over resourcing and disciplinary procedures (Stock Image)

Chris Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022

A firearms source, told the Telegraph: ‘It is no surprise that officers are not applying to join armed policing. They look at what is going on and they quite rightly ask themselves ‘Is it worth it?”

The question if it is worth joining follows the growing repercussions the force is feeling since the murder of Chris Kaba.

Mr Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022.

The officer charged with his murder is known only as NX121 but is expected to be named after a court hearing next month – causing further discontent in the Met’s specialist firearms unit.

In September last year, dozens handed in their weapons in protest over the decision to charge a colleague with murder. While hundreds more have quit the force amid widespread anger in the force.

After the slew of Autumn resignations led to the Army being put on standby, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley pledged to push for new safeguards including fewer and speedier investigations into alleged police wrongdoing.

Det Ch Supt Charmain Brenyah, from Specialist Firearms Command, said:’We know many firearms officers are concerned about how the role could impact them and their families and we are pleased the Home Office is carrying out a review into police accountability.’

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