The head of Hampshire's Police Federation has said she is not surprised that Met firearms officers have handed in their permits. 

Hampshire chair Zoe Wakefield said that every day armed officers need to assess if they are fit to carry a firearm. 

More than 100 officers in the capital turned in their permits that allow them to carry weapons in the last week. 

It came after a Met firearms officer was charged with the murder of unarmed Chris Kaba, 24, who died following a police shooting in south London.

The move prompted the armed forces to be put on standby earlier today though they have now been stood down. 

Ms Wakefield said: "Carrying a firearm is voluntary and every day officers need to assess whether or not they are fit to carry a firearm that day.

"It is a personal decision for them. They cannot be forced to carry a firearm. 

"I am not surprised that firearms officers in the Met have handed in their tickets.

"Carrying a firearm is a huge responsibility and those that do so are highly trained.

"Is all that training and responsibility worth the risk of being prosecuted for murder?"

She added that Hampshire Constabulary has received mutual aid requests from the Met but no officers have volunteered.

No officers from Hampshire have been deployed to London at this time. 

Ms Wakefield said she is not aware of any Hampshire firearms officers having handed in their permits but that officers are "very aware of what is happening in the Met and have some real concerns". 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said armed police need “clarity” about the legal powers they have as he backed a review by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman after an unnamed officer was charged with murder over the shooting of Mr Kaba last year.

Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a community centre in Hertfordshire, the Prime Minister said: “Our firearms officers do an incredibly difficult job.

“They are making life or death decisions in a split-second to keep us safe and they deserve our gratitude for their bravery.

“Now it is important when they are using these legal powers that they do so with clarity and they have certainty about what they are doing, especially given the lethality they are using.

“That is why the Home Secretary has asked her department to review the guidance that the officers are operating under to make sure it is robust and that is commands the confidence, not just of the officers, but of the public as well.

“Obviously it wouldn’t be right for me to speculate on ongoing cases but that is what we are doing.”