Young guns

A Freedom of Information Act 2000 request by Police Review has revealed that 23 UK police forces have firearms officers aged 25 years old or younger and 10 forces have firearms officers aged at least 55.

Police Review's survey asked for the ages of forces' youngest and oldest firearms officers. Of the 55 forces asked for information, 53 replied, with only the Met and the Ministry of Defence Police failing to respond. The results range from the youngest firearms cop in the country at 21 years old, with the oldest 61. Both of those officers are with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

But is there an age at which you are too young to be a firearms officer? And does the role get too physically demanding as officers grow old?

There are minimum standards for eyesight, fitness and hearing for firearms officers but ACPO told Police Review that information was in a restricted document and could not be published.