Martyn Blake- why do we throw our best under the bus? .............................. Isn't it time to support those who put their lives on the line to protect us all?
Martyn Blake's acquittal at the Old Bailey was a right and just decision. It was staggering that he found himself gripping the rail at The Old Bailey for doing his job. Upholding the law, making the correct decision in defending colleagues whose lives were in imminent danger. All supported by body worn camera footage clearly showing the threat that he and colleagues faced on that night back in September 2022.
Along with many friends and former colleagues, I felt a sense of palpable relief as the jury returned a not guilty verdict on Monday.
The story dominated the domestic news across Tuesday and Wednesday.
The implications of a guilty verdict would have seen grave implications and serious soul searching for any of our Police officers (all volunteers) who choose to carry a firearm to serve and protect the public.
I think its important to steer clear of any of the well publicised political and racist implications of this incident and judge it as the jury have done, for what it is, a conflictual resolution where appropriate force has been used by police when confronted with a lethal threat. Whilst many will rightly say that firearms officers are called on to make complex pressurised decisions, the appropriate use of force here is clear and unambiguous.
The media has been saturated with opinion on what should and shouldn't have happened. There are very few who have ever carried a firearm and if they have, been in involved in regular conflictual situations demanding accurate and proportionate decision making.. Many so called experts in their field, some for personal gain, others keen to deliver a political message or alleging a racist slant. For many of these experts, hindsight is a wonderful thing. It's very easy to judge after much reflection in comfortable surroundings on a computer. (A luxury that was not afforded to Martyn Blake as he made his split second decision on that September night in 2022.)
As somebody who served 18 years with SO19 I have watched and read in disbelief, some of the theories. Particularly journalists who have used this statement "He was unarmed!" He was actually armed with a 2 ton Audi and was trying to run down police officers! There are many villains who arm themselves with a variety of lethal weapons that are not guns!
I will not mention the antecedence of the person shot by police. Suffice to say that many high profile personalities may wish to revisit social media posts and statements that were made previously. I have managed to dismiss the unqualified rhetoric and have instead been reminded that I am one of the 'good guys' by the excellent opinion in the media of my friend and former colleague Tony Long. A highly experienced and skilled specialist firearms officer, his calm and controlled temperament in both interview and in the written word is something I would urge you to seek if you want a balanced and informed view of life as a firearms officer and of the case itself. Like Martyn Blake, he has too has experienced going to trial and being acquitted of murder at the Central Criminal Court.
As a former firearms officer, this case has jogged the memories of initial firearms training back in 1987. The Met Police firearms training facility was in Lippitts Hill, a former 2nd World war POW camp in a rural setting in Epping Forest. I vividly remember the two week tactical and shooting course. (we were trained on the Model 10 Smith and Wesson revolver) From my first experience I was struck by the professionalism of the instructors.
The capacity to be able deal with the sort of situation that Martyn Blake faced starts a long time before firearms training. Conflict resolution is a skill that every police officer develops as soon as he or she steps out onto the streets and is exposed to the public. No situation is the same. In the early days, inexperience plays a part, you don't always make the right judgement, error was natural and was normally followed by a debriefing with a 'parent constable'. You learnt day to day and gained experience on the job, underpinning the skill acquisition for making pressurised decisions, using an appropriate and proportionate level of force. The scenarios on the firearms course develop that skill and then operational firearms experience enhances it. With the addition of many scenarios demanding assessment and varying levels of force in both training and on firearms operations, the skill level is high and maintained.
The officers who are deployed on Armed Response Vehicles aren't just cops who have been given guns, these are highly trained officers, the cream of the crop.
The media coverage that this incident has seen and some of the rhetoric might suggest that our firearm officers are trigger happy and that shots are regularly fired on police firearm operations, Far from it, there are very few instances where shots are fired by police. Roughly 18,000 firearms operations per year since 2011 and only 83 fatal police shootings in the UK in the last 34 years. (just under 2.5 per year.) We never hear of the thousands of occasions where resolution is achieved through negotiation, skill and correct tactical deployment.
I have never met Martyn Blake, but have spoken to colleagues that know him and work with him who describe him unanimously as being incredibly professional.
For years, those in the know have been campaigning for more support for firearms officers. It's fallen on deaf ears until events have brought it to a head, too late! The support Martyn has received from management is frankly too little too late. Where was the support through this two year ordeal? Who fought to maintain his anonymity aside from his peers? The government announcement granting anonymity for firearms officers has come too late for Martyn who will be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life...........
It is incredulous and extremely worrying that he was named and has received death threats following his acquittal.
The time has come to support those who volunteer to run towards the danger to serve and protect us rather than throw them to the Lions for doing their job!
Andy Halliday served in the Metropolitan Police from 1980 - 2010. From 1992 until his retirement, He was a Firearms Officer in SO19. Initially crewing London's armed response vehicles and from 1995 as a specialist firearms officer and instructor. He served alongside some of the most professional, talented and conscientious individuals you could meet in any walk of life. Like minded souls who had successfully navigated a rigorous physical and cognitive selection process.
