Firearms unit

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A firearms unit is a specialized, armed unit within the operational area of a police department in the United Kingdom. For the most part, the police forces of the United Kingdom are generally unarmed; however, the firearms units ensure Armed Response Vehicle crews are trained to the required national standard. Firearms units receive enhanced training in dynamic entry tactics for hostage rescue, maintain a pool of specialist tactics advisors, and has a planning capability for firearms operations and VIP protection. For example, the Firearms Support Units in Warwickshire is used for arrests of armed criminals, raids, and are currently being trained for National Bus Company protection. A firearms unit also delivers a significant amount of training to other police forces, on subjects such as specialist firearms tactics.

Specialized armed police units exist even for police agencies where officers are generally armed. The most famous of these specialized units is the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, in many American cities. Other examples include the Tactical Aid Group (TAG) in the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, Australia's Special Weapons and Operations Squad (SWOS) and the Special Tactics and Rescue force in Singapore.