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London's Armed Police: Up Close and Personal
Come on a journey with veteran firearms officer, Stephen Smith as he goes behind the scenes of the Met’s Specialist Firearms Unit, CO19.
This book covers events from the controversial shooting of Azelle Rodney in 2005 and Mark Duggan in 2011, right up to the outrageous terrorists attacks on Westminster, London Bridge and Borough Market.
Stephen Smith, through his unique access to CO19, has managed to put together hundreds of detailed photographs along with text that goes a long way to explain why it is necessary to have such an elite firearms unit on standby 24/7 in London.
This comprehensive volume will bring you right up-to date with the training, operations, equipment and mindset of these courageous individuals who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to keep the capital safe.
London’s Armed Police is a must have for anyone with an interest in modern policing or police firearms matters.
This book covers events from the controversial shooting of Azelle Rodney in 2005 and Mark Duggan in 2011, right up to the outrageous terrorists attacks on Westminster, London Bridge and Borough Market.
Stephen Smith, through his unique access to CO19, has managed to put together hundreds of detailed photographs along with text that goes a long way to explain why it is necessary to have such an elite firearms unit on standby 24/7 in London.
This comprehensive volume will bring you right up-to date with the training, operations, equipment and mindset of these courageous individuals who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to keep the capital safe.
London’s Armed Police is a must have for anyone with an interest in modern policing or police firearms matters.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 13, 2019
66 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Smith
5 booksStephen Smith works for Channel 4 news and writes regularly for the LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 24, 2020
This is really a review of two books because London’s Armed Police follows on from the author’s earlier title (albeit released by a different publisher) Stop! Armed Police!: Inside the Met’s Firearms Unit.
The earlier title related the history of the Met’s firearms unit, from foundation through an exhaustive recounting of each and every shooting incident and the unit’s repeated reorganisation, up to the date of publication (2013). London’s Armed Police takes up the story, detailing shootings, incidents, and the unit’s reorganisation since. This truncated timeframe (the earlier title covered the period 1966 to 2013, while this book covers 2013 to 2019) allows the author much more space to detail the tactics, training and weapons of the unit (always mindful of course not to divulge confidential details).
The earlier title discussed tactics and weaponry too, but this latter title has much more on this and of course details the contemporary unit’s kit and procedures. Like the previous title, London’s Armed Police is gorgeously illustrated with dramatic colour photographs which bring what might otherwise be a technical manual to life. Similarly, photographs are used to illustrate the accounts of police shootings, though only where appropriate and there are no gratuitous pictures of bodies.
This is a non-fiction history but it is not a dry account and the author knows his subject and brings it to life. Readers will come to this from a variety of perspectives. For some, the appeal will be simple interest in the subject. For others like myself, it will be more reference. As a journalist and a writer of crime fiction, I have an interest in armed police operations. Whatever the readers' motivation, this is a readable and well laid out account of the Met police firearms unit and one that is sure to not disappoint.
The earlier title related the history of the Met’s firearms unit, from foundation through an exhaustive recounting of each and every shooting incident and the unit’s repeated reorganisation, up to the date of publication (2013). London’s Armed Police takes up the story, detailing shootings, incidents, and the unit’s reorganisation since. This truncated timeframe (the earlier title covered the period 1966 to 2013, while this book covers 2013 to 2019) allows the author much more space to detail the tactics, training and weapons of the unit (always mindful of course not to divulge confidential details).
The earlier title discussed tactics and weaponry too, but this latter title has much more on this and of course details the contemporary unit’s kit and procedures. Like the previous title, London’s Armed Police is gorgeously illustrated with dramatic colour photographs which bring what might otherwise be a technical manual to life. Similarly, photographs are used to illustrate the accounts of police shootings, though only where appropriate and there are no gratuitous pictures of bodies.
This is a non-fiction history but it is not a dry account and the author knows his subject and brings it to life. Readers will come to this from a variety of perspectives. For some, the appeal will be simple interest in the subject. For others like myself, it will be more reference. As a journalist and a writer of crime fiction, I have an interest in armed police operations. Whatever the readers' motivation, this is a readable and well laid out account of the Met police firearms unit and one that is sure to not disappoint.
January 11, 2026
Interesting book detailing past armed cases and outcomes, the author does a good job describing incidents yet without disclosing the actual procedures and methods used for obvious security reasons.
My only, admittedly minor, gripe is the use and amount of acronyms, whilst appreciating acronyms are likely a “way of life” for the Police (like the military) I found myself having to frequently go to the glossary to look up the meaning.
Still a fascinating look into the skill, pressures and training they go through, these guys are pretty much trained similar to Special Forces (which I guess they are tbh)
My only, admittedly minor, gripe is the use and amount of acronyms, whilst appreciating acronyms are likely a “way of life” for the Police (like the military) I found myself having to frequently go to the glossary to look up the meaning.
Still a fascinating look into the skill, pressures and training they go through, these guys are pretty much trained similar to Special Forces (which I guess they are tbh)
April 29, 2020
Awesome
Amazing read. Could not put it down. Our armed police officers deserve all the credit in the world for doing their job in the most professional way. I salute them all and thanks to them all and their dedication and heroism as highlighted by Mr Smith in this book.
Amazing read. Could not put it down. Our armed police officers deserve all the credit in the world for doing their job in the most professional way. I salute them all and thanks to them all and their dedication and heroism as highlighted by Mr Smith in this book.
October 22, 2024
Amazing
What a brilliant book, full of incidents, history. examples of operations, also training techniques, some good photos of Armed Officers in training.
Well written and researched book from someone who has been involved in the incidents.
Well worth a read
What a brilliant book, full of incidents, history. examples of operations, also training techniques, some good photos of Armed Officers in training.
Well written and researched book from someone who has been involved in the incidents.
Well worth a read
October 16, 2023
The book wasn't what was expected. I didn't feel it was an inside account, much of what was written about is public knowledge. Easy to skip pages. Average at best.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews