Officer's use of firearm 'consistent with training'

The incident happened near Great Scotland Yard in central London on 8 March 2020

The use of a firearm by a City of London Police officer who felt threatened by a man armed with two knives was "consistent with training", an inquest has heard.

Hassan Yahya, 30, was Tasered then shot dead by police in Westminster, central London, on 8 March 2020.

Police expert Gary Wedge told Inner West London Coroner's Court training for firearms officers "requires them to make decisions in line with the national decision model".

The officer, who remains anonymous and is referred to as BX222, previously said he fired because Mr Yahya was raising his knife and moving towards him.

The inquest heard an officer tried to Taser Mr Yahya in Northumberland Avenue at about 23:30 GMT, before he moved towards Great Scotland Yard.

Mr Yahya was then Tasered and shot dead by two different officers at the same time.

At the inquest, Mr Wedge, manager of the national police firearms training curriculum at the College of Policing, was asked whether the use of the firearm was in line with training.

"I think it would be fair to say training requires them to make decisions in line with the national decision model, to analyse the information and intelligence and based on that, which is the most appropriate tactical option, based on such an analysis that response would be consistent with training," he replied.

When asked if anything was outside training in the use of a conventional firearm by BX222, Mr Wedge said "no, it was all consistent with training".

The policing expert also said it was up to the officer to justify why he took the shot.

BX222 previously told the inquest he thought his "life was in danger" before he fired.

The inquest continues.