What is Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer?
{{Additional citations}} A '''Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer''' ('''CTSFO''') is an elite [[:en:Authorised_firearms_officer#Firearms_currently_used_by_AFOs|armed police officer]] in the [[United Kingdom]] specially-trained in the usage of [[Gun|firearms]]. The CTSFO standard is the highest Authorized Firearms Officer level in the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC) and was established by the [[Metropolitan Police|Metropolitan Police Service]] in the lead up to the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] held in [[London]] in July 2012. The Firearms units of police forces organize CTSFOs into teams to establish a Police Tactical Unit. A national capability to respond to terrorist incidents such as marauding terrorist firearms attacks through collaboration of police forces who maintain CTSFO teams was established known as the ''CTSFO Network.'' == History == In April 2016, a two year recruitment drive known as the CTSFO uplift project, part of the National Armed Uplift Program, commenced to double the number of CTSFOs and has been extended until the end of 2018. On 3 August 2016, the MPS held a press conference for the announcement of ''Operation Hercules'', displaying the CTSFO teams to the public wearing wolf-grey-coloured tactical uniforms, equipped with SIG Sauer SIG516 and SIG MCX carbines, Glock 17 handguns, Remington 870 shotgun, Accuracy International AT308 [[sniper rifle]], and paraded the BMW F800GS motorcycles used for deployments in central London. <ref>{{cite web | last=White | first=Mark | title=Police Tactics Aim To Keep Terrorists Guessing | website=Sky News | date=2016-08-03 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/amp/police-tactics-aim-to-keep-terrorists-guessing-10521344 | access-date=2024-09-11}}</ref> == Training == CTSFOs engage in various types of high level training including use of live rounds during close quarters combat (CQC) training, explosive entry and fast-roping from helicopters to be able to respond more effectively to terrorist incidents. They also conduct training