Armed police in Tenby 597/2025

FOI Reference: 597/2025

Request:

On Monday 22 April at approx 12pm in Tenby, I witnessed 2 armed police officers walking down the main street into Greggs. I had 2 children with me and we were anxious and very concerned to see officers with weapons. I then observed them buying goods so I approached them to enquire if this was normal procedure for policing in Tenby now. They said they were often used to patrol. I would like to know if this is to be the procedure and under what circumstances they would deploy their firearms?

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:

Their role is ‘armed response’ and as part of their role they will carry firearms. As they are police officers they are allowed to conduct foot patrol, general patrol and during their tour of duty they are entitled to refreshment breaks. There was no policing operation in Tenby on the date in question so I would suggest that it would appear on this occasion that they have stopped in Greggs just to purchase food which they are entitled to do.

Firearms would only be deployed if the criteria to deploy was authorised and met.

This should only be authorised in the following circumstances:

Where the officer authorising the deployment has reason to suppose that officers may have to protect themselves or others from a person who:

• Is in possession or has immediate access to a firearm or other potentially lethal weapon, or
• Is otherwise so dangerous that the deployment of armed officers is considered to be appropriate, or
• As an operational contingency in a specific operation, or
• For the destruction of animals which are dangerous or are suffering unnecessarily.

The term ‘deploy’ means in responding to an incident that meets the criteria for firearm deployment. Firearm officers would still be allowed to attend other calls of all nature but they could only use/deploy firearms if the above criteria was met.                                  

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 10/06/2025)