Soldiers on standby to fill in after dozens of London's armed police downed weapons over colleague's murder charge

Soldiers could fill in for armed police after scores of Metropolitan Police officers stood down from firearms duties following a murder charge against one of their colleagues.

Scotland Yard requested military support from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for counter-terrorism duties as a contingency option if armed officers are unavailable.

A MOD spokeswoman said: "We have accepted a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request from the Home Office to provide routine counter-terrorism contingency support to the Metropolitan Police, should it be needed."

Armed Forces personnel will only assist if required with specific tasks where a capability cannot be provided by the police, as they can occasionally do under the MACA process.

There are no plans to use soldiers in a routine policing capacity and they will not perform any other routine duties of unarmed police officers nor have powers of arrest.

The Met Police said it was a "contingency option" that would only be used "in specific circumstances".

It comes after more than 100 police officers were reported to have turned in their permits to carry weapons after an officer was charged with the murder of unarmed Chris Kaba last year.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ordered a review of the situation, insisting officers "mustn't fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties".

Mrs Braverman said she had ordered a review to ensure armed officers "have the confidence to do their job".

The Home Secretary said: "We depend on our brave firearms officers to protect us from the most dangerous and violent in society.

"In the interest of public safety, they have to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressures.

"They mustn't fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties. Officers risking their lives to keep us safe have my full backing and I will do everything in my power to support them."

A Met Police officer appeared in court on Thursday in relation to the fatal shooting of Mr Kaba.

The officer accused of his murder, named only as NX121 after a district judge granted an anonymity order, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court and the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Senior officers, including Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley, have been meeting with firearms officers in recent days to reflect on the charge.

Scotland Yard acknowledged the situation had prompted "a number of officers" to "step back from armed duties while they consider their position".

The Met is supporting officers who have stepped back from firearms duties to help them "fully understand the genuinely held concerns that they have".