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Posted by Nobbynobs:
CO19 can only be involved in a cross-border operation with the authority of the local Chief Constable or by direct involvement of the Home Secretary. They may be invited by the CC if their TFU is not equiped to deal with a specific operation.
Actually, unless things have changed dramatically there are always exceptions to the rule. When I was with PT17 / SO19 if we were in gunships in support of one of the squads on a mobile surveillance that went out of the Met we could follow. It was the duty of the OIC to inform that force. In a few instances things did go wrong before that message could be conveyed and the County force didn't know teams were in their area (i.e The Woodhatch shooting in Surrey) I have been on quite a lot of these type of scenarios.
With regard to SF taking over on a major terrorist hostage rescue let's not forget that they can't just go in and take over. The Senior police officer on the ground has to officially request their intervention in writing, and as soon as the incident is over it must be handed back to the police.
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