The use of firearms by employees of security and convoy units of the police

Sinitsyn Evgeniy Igorevich Lecturer at the Firearms Training Department of Tyumen Professional Training Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 625049, Russia, Tyumenskaya oblast', g. Tyumen', ul. Amurskaya, 75 evgeniy.sinitsyn.2019@mail.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction. In order to carry out effective official and professional activities by police officers, whose official duties include the protection and escort of suspects and accused persons, it is necessary to form stable practical skills that should be practice-oriented. The main risk associated with the daily work of the employees of the security and escort units of the police is primarily associated with the possibility of an armed attack with the subsequent escape of suspects and accused. An attack on a police officer for the purpose of seizing firearms, or taking hostages, often leads to injury or death of both the employee himself and random citizens. The employees of the security and escort units of the police should be able to respond promptly to any emerging threat from suspects and accused, and if there are legal grounds to stop illegal actions with firearms.

When using means of physical coercion ^{[1, p. 6]} of suspects and accused, a police officer must meet the qualification requirements for his position in the internal affairs bodies and possess professional knowledge and skills^[1]. It is worth noting that the existing requirements^[2] to the official category, include the duty of employees of the security and convoy units of the police to take active self-defense measures established by law, with the help of special means and firearms. At the same time, in the regulatory legal acts2 regulating the activities of the security and escort units of the police, there is no order and methods of eliminating possible threats with firearms. The procedure of the employee's actions in cases of escape or attack of suspects and accused, according to the Instruction, is set out in general phrases – the employee acts depending on the situation, takes measures to prevent escape.

Employees of security and convoy police units should have a wider range of special skills than the volume regulated by the current Manual on Fire Training. We assume that the successful execution by the employees of the security and escort units of the police of any control exercise of shooting according to the Instruction will not indicate their readiness to act effectively in real conditions of the situation, especially if it is associated with the need to use firearms in specific conditions of official activity. Such specific conditions include: a limited or enclosed space (the body of a special vehicle, a flight of stairs, a block of cameras), as well as ultrashort (from 0 to 3 meters) and short (up to 5 meters) distances of the most likely use of firearms.

In order to successfully carry out actions related to the possible repulse of an attack on a police officer and prevent the acquisition of firearms, not only basic fire training in the system of vocational training (professional service training) is necessary, but also tactical fire training, which, as N.V. Astafyev noted ^{[1, p. 131]}, should be based on in practice, the use of firearms by a specific category of employees or conditions of service.

The object of research: professional activity of employees of security and convoy police units related to the use of firearms.

Subject of the study: conditions for the use of firearms by employees of security and convoy units of the police.

The problem of the study is determined by the contradiction between the need to study modern conditions for the use of firearms by employees of security and convoy police units for the development of practice-oriented standards and special shooting exercises, and the lack of publicly available necessary information about the practice of using firearms by employees of this category.

The purpose of the study is to describe the conditions for the performance of operational and service tasks by employees of security and convoy police units associated with the use of firearms.

Research objectives:

1. Define criteria for a formalized description of the conditions for the use of firearms by police officers performing tasks for the protection and escort of suspects and accused.

2. To analyze information on emergency incidents committed in the activities of temporary detention facilities for suspects and accused of internal affairs bodies, security and escort units for 2014-2021.

3. Compare information on emergency incidents committed in the activities of temporary detention facilities of suspects and accused law enforcement agencies, security and escort units for 2014-2021 with the results of the survey.

The hypothesis of the study is based on the assumption that the basis for the development of standards and special shooting exercises for employees of security and convoy police units may be based on knowledge about the conditions of use of firearms by employees of this category obtained using forecasting methods.

General scientific research methods: analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction. Empirical methods:pedagogical forecasting (questionnaires), extrapolation; mathematical statistics (mathematical and statistical data processing).

The results of the study. An emergency incident in the security and escort units of the police associated with escape, assault, armed assault or armed resistance provided to a police officer will be closely associated with a high probability of the use of firearms. The main feature of the listed threats will be the suddenness of their onset. This circumstance requires an employee of the security and escort units of the police to be in constant readiness for any active actions, up to the use of firearms to kill.

Criteria for a formalized description of the conditions for the use of firearms by police officers performing tasks of guarding and escorting suspects and accused.

According to the criterion "the place of escape (attack)", the conditions can be differentiated as follows: according to the probability of the use of firearms in the courtroom, in the convoy room of the court, in a special car (when boarding and disembarking suspects and accused; during security and escorting from the box), in the building of the Department of Internal Affairs, on a flight of stairs, when the production of investigative actions in the open/in a closed area, in a medical facility.

         According to the criterion of "degree of public danger", conditions can be differentiated into simple (escape, without resistance and attack on an employee) and qualified (with attack, armed resistance).

         According to the criterion of "circle of participants" conditions can be differentiated into single and group. Accordingly, the use of firearms is likely against one or more participants in the attack (escape).

         According to the criterion "form of escape content", the conditions are differentiated into secret and open (attack, armed attack, armed resistance).

         According to the criterion "category of guarding officers", the conditions associated with the possibility of using firearms can be differentiated into the use of weapons by employees of temporary detention facilities (hereinafter – IVS), the use of weapons by employees of security and convoy police units (regular convoy) or the use of weapons by employees of territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia included in the reserve for performing security and convoy functions (freelance convoy).

         According to the criterion "category of escaped (attackers) persons". The conditions are differentiated into detained persons in the order of 91-92 Articles of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation; suspects and accused; convicted.

         According to the criterion of "criminal record", the conditions for the probable use of weapons are differentiated into previously convicted persons and not convicted.

Table 1

Criteria for a formalized description of the conditions for the use of firearms by police officers performing tasks of guarding and escorting suspects and accused

Despite the implementation of additional measures^[3] aimed at preventing emergencies and other incidents in the activities of special police institutions and security and convoy units of the police, their number continues to remain high and generally unchanged over the past years^[4].

Thus, according to the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia4, presented in the review of emergency incidents for 2021, committed in the activities of temporary detention facilities of suspects and accused internal affairs bodies, security and escort units, there is a sharp increase in cases of attacks on police officers – by 500% (Figure 1).

Figure 1 – Dynamics of escapes involving attacks on police officers performing tasks of guarding and escorting suspects and accused

In this regard, there are real risks of non-fulfillment in 2021 of the State Program of the Russian Federation "Ensuring public order and combating crime"^[5].

In addition, an increase in the number of attacks on employees of security and escort units of the police indicates that they have legal grounds related to the use of firearms. Therefore, situations of attacks on police officers are characterized by a high probability of the use of firearms as a means of physical coercion of suspects and accused.

The largest number of emergency incidents committed in the activities of temporary detention facilities of suspects and accused internal affairs bodies, security units and escorts in 2020-2021 were committed through the fault of employees of the reserve, freelance convoy – employees of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia included in the reserve to perform security and convoy functions.

The share of admitted emergencies by employees of the IVS and security and escort units of the police for 2014-2021 was 57%, and the share of admitted emergencies by employees of non-core units – reserve, freelance convoy, for the same period, was 43%. If we take into account that about 90% of the total number of escorted persons falls on specialized security and escort units, and 10% falls on employees of other units whose direct duties are not related to the performance of security and convoy functions, then the share of accidents committed by non-core units is very significant.

This circumstance can be explained by the lack of special knowledge, skills and work skills of employees of non-core units, the lack of strong counteraction skills in situations involving armed resistance or attacks of suspects and accused, as well as the lack of experience and skills to work in the specific conditions of the official activities of security and convoy police units (Figure 2).

Figure 2 – Information about attacks (escapes) of suspects and accused, depending on the category of police officers guarding

In the conditions of increased workload and shortage of personnel of the security and convoy units of the police in recent years, the involvement of employees of non-specialized units, including those not included in the reserve in accordance with the established procedure and who have not undergone special training, continues. This contributes to an increase in the risk of injury and death of employees due to their lack of the necessary tactical fire training, which would take into account the specifics and conditions of service.

Thus, the data presented in Figure 2 indicate the relevance of providing targeted (for specific physical conditions for the performance of operational and service tasks) and the current level of preparedness of both employees of security and convoy police units and employees of other units of the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, whose job responsibilities include the performance of security and convoy functions ^{[1, p.7]}.

N.V. Astafyev ^{[1, p.7]} notes that: "... it is possible to provide targeted (for specific physical conditions of performance of operational and service tasks) and a modern level of preparedness of employees of internal affairs bodies for the use of means of physical coercion by repeatedly working out simple in structure and reliable in the result of motor actions - standards for service training, bringing the mastery of the mastered methods of action (standards) to the level of motor skill or conditioned reflex." Some standards forming tactical fire training are presented in the monograph of N.V. Astafiev ^{[1, p.134]}. These are the standard "Leaving the firing line at short distances and preparing to fire a pistol", "Changing the pistol magazine in various positions", "Eliminating the delay when firing a pistol" and others ^[2].

When analyzing information about attacks (escapes) of suspects and accused, depending on the place of their commission ^[6] in the period from 2014-2021, 31% were admitted to the IVS and the convoy room of the court, 22% - in a special vehicle (when boarding-disembarking suspects and accused persons, during protection and escorting from boxing), 24% - in the buildings of internal affairs bodies, 5% - during investigative actions, 18% - in medical institutions (Figure 3).

When assessing the likelihood of the use of weapons by the officers of the security and escort units of the police, it is worth considering that the professional and official activities of the employees of these units are carried out mainly in the courthouse or in a special car, when delivering suspects and accused for face-to-face participation in the trial or familiarization with the case materials (the share of cases of attacks (escapes) was 53%) ^[7].

Figure 3 – Information about attacks (escapes) of suspects and accused, depending on the place of their commission

When analyzing the remaining criteria for a formalized description of the conditions for the use of firearms by police officers performing tasks for the protection and escort of suspects and accused, the following data were obtained, which are presented in Figure 4.

    Figure 4 – Information about attacks (escapes) of suspects and accused, classified according to various criteria

Based on the information provided, it can be concluded that the use of firearms by officers of security and escort units of the police will be most likely in relation to previously convicted citizens who have the status of a suspect or accused ^[8]. Every 5 escape cases will involve an attack on a police officer, and every 10 escape cases will be of a group nature.

Therefore, within the framework of tactical fire training, the standards being developed should include techniques and methods of actions of police officers, both singly and as part of an official outfit ^[3]. Also, actions can be practiced to bring weapons into readiness for firing in various ways and from various positions; leaving the line of oncoming fire; moving with weapons and communication between the staff of the service outfit with voice commands and conditional signals ^[4].

Reference: in order to determine the most likely physical conditions for the use of firearms by employees of security and convoy units of the police in 2022 at the Tyumen Institute for Advanced Training of Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 84 employees of security and convoy units of the police, 53 employees of territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia included in the reserve for performing security and convoy duties were interviewed using a specially developed questionnaire. functions (freelance convoy), and 102 employees of other police units whose activities are not related to the performance of security and convoy functions (table 2).

The results of the survey showed that the alleged conditions for the use of firearms by employees of the security and escort units of the police, according to some criteria, correspond to the actual conditions for the use of firearms by employees of this category.

At the same time, it can be assumed that police officers, in the event of a real situation requiring the use of firearms, will act based on the presence of formed skills ^[5]. For example, in a situation of a fire confrontation with a suspect or accused, a police officer should leave the line of fire, reduce the area of possible damage (take a position for shooting "from the knee" or "lying down", if possible, find shelter), however, it is very likely that an employee of this set of tactical actions will not be able to perform thus, it will be an easy target for an armed criminal.

For example, the majority of the interviewed employees of the "regular convoy", according to the criterion of "firing distance", indicated the most likely distance of the use of weapons – from 3 to 5 meters (76%), while the employees of the "reserve convoy" indicated the most likely distance of the use of weapons – from 5 to 10 meters (67%).

According to the criterion of "firing position", the largest number of interviewed employees of the "regular convoy" chose the standing position (89%), and "leaving the firing line" (79%). Employees of the "reserve convoy", according to the same criterion, preferred the standing position (95%). A high percentage of responses indicating the possible use of firearms by police officers from a standing position indicates rather insufficient skills in possession of firearms from various positions.

According to the criterion "method of sending the cartridge", the staff of the "regular" and "reserve" convoy noted the most likely method of sending the cartridge into the chamber with a free hand – 98% and 96%, respectively. This circumstance may indicate that police officers lack special knowledge and skills to bring weapons into combat readiness in non-standard ways.

According to the criterion "method of holding weapons", the staff of the "regular" convoy in 64% of cases chose the option of holding weapons with two hands. In this case, it is necessary to take into account that at the time of the attack on an employee of the security and escort units of the police, the escort's hand will be fastened with means of restricting mobility to the suspect's (accused's) hand, thereby significantly limiting the possibility of using two hands for self-defense or bringing weapons into readiness.

According to the "method of firing criterion", the staff of the "regular convoy" in situations of the use of firearms noted the absence of the need to use sighting devices. This condition was noted by 78% of the respondents of this category of employees.

Table 2

Assessment of probable physical conditions of use of firearms by police officers

Conclusion. The acquired knowledge about the conditions for the use of firearms by employees of security and convoy police units will allow us to develop practice-oriented standards and special shooting exercises that can be used in educational organizations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, during the implementation of professional training programs (within the framework of the discipline "Fire training" and the professionally specialized cycle "Topical issues of the activities of security andconvoy units of the police"), in the system of professional service and physical training of employees of security and convoy units of the police (fire training, service training), during the training before entering the service.

^[1] Federal Law No. 342-FZ of 30.11.2011 (as amended on 05.12.2022) "On Service in the Internal Affairs Bodies of the Russian Federation and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation".

^[2] Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 140 dsp dated March 7, 2006 "On approval of the Instruction on the official activities of temporary detention facilities for suspects and accused of internal affairs bodies, security units and escorting suspects and accused".

^[3] Minutes of the meeting of the Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Prevention of offenses dated 11.03.2020 No. 1.

^[4] "On the direction of the review of emergency incidents committed in 2021 in the activities of temporary detention facilities for suspects and accused internal affairs bodies, security and escort units, special receivers for the detention of persons subjected to administrative arrest, as well as special institutions designed to hold foreign citizens and stateless persons subject to administrative expulsion outside the Russian Federation, deportation or readmission and measures taken to prevent them in the context of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)" No. 1/2719 of 03/18/2022

^[5] Indicator 1.2 "The number of escapes committed by persons protected by employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation, calculated per 100 thousand suspects and accused of internal affairs bodies held in temporary detention facilities and escorted by employees of internal affairs bodies".