Introduction - What is ACPO CUF?

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) portfolio for the Criminal Use of Firearms (ACPO CUF) is headed by Assistant Chief Constable Susannah Fish.

The primary role of ACPO CUF is to reduce the threat and harm caused by firearms crime by effectively reducing the fear of crime through prompting, facilitating and coordinating the development and implementation of a national multi-agency partnership strategy on firearms crime.

CUF has aligned its activity to the National Intelligence Requirement (NIR) promulgated by SOCA. ACPO CUF intelligence activities feed into this prioritised, measured requirement, ensuring knowledge is developed in an agreed, structured way.

ACPO CUF has a Steering group providing strategic direction and support. This group is supported by a Practitioners’ group that brings together relevant law enforcement professionals. A Themed National Independent Advisory Group (TNIAG) acts in support of the overall structure by monitoring and observing ACPO CUF activity, providing advice and feedback from well placed and independant members of the community on tackling firearms crime within the UK. A secretariat function is provided by NABIS Knowledge and Communications; this allows the effective coordination of activity and oversees the programme management of delivery plans.

SOCA has a Programme of Activity in relation to firearms that brings together key representatives from a variety of agencies and coordinates activity that tackles the serious, organised-end of firearms crime. The ACPO CUF lead is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the entire programme ensuring activity led between ACPO CUF and SOCA is shared and joined-up.