LOOKBACK
in police preparedness—particularly in inter-agency communication, major incident response, and protective equipment. In the years since, these gaps have been addressed with vigour. Multi-agency response training, often conducted under the banner of Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP), became standard, ensuring police, ambulance, and fire services operate seamlessly during major incidents.
Specialist firearms officers were expanded, re-trained, and equipped to respond quickly to marauding attacks. The number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) in the UK increased significantly in the years after 7/7 and even more after later attacks in the 2010s. Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFOs) were formed and embedded in regional units, trained to confront mass casualty scenarios, hostage sieges, and complex attacks. Protective clothing and PPE, previously minimal, became essential kit for officers, especially those dealing with explosives or chemical threats. The fact that all four 7/7 bombings occurred on the public transport network forced a radical overhaul of policing in transit environments. British Transport Police (BTP) expanded in size and capability, and increased its deployment of armed officers in key stations. CCTV use was expanded dramatically across the rail network, and integrated with facial recognition and real-time data analytics in some areas. Visible policing, including canine units, security sweeps, and random bag searches, became part of the new normal for policing public transport hubs. Post-7/7, surveillance powers
expanded significantly under laws such as the Terrorism Act 2006 and later the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Police forces gained broader powers to detain suspects, monitor communications, and disrupt activity. Critics argued this eroded civil liberties, but defenders pointed to the need for proactive measures to keep people safe in an age of unpredictable threat. Policing was now operating in a world where intelligence-gathering, disruption, and surveillance were central to its public safety role. Perhaps one of the most complex legacies of 7/7 has been the relationship between police and Britain’s Muslim communities. While many officers developed strong partnerships with faith leaders and local organisations,
Prevent strategies often caused tension, with accusations of racial profiling and community suspicion. Policing had to learn how to work more transparently, sensitively, and locally—building trust without compromising security. Finally, 7/7 was a wake-up call about the psychological toll of major incidents on frontline officers. Many who responded that day reported suffering from PTSD, moral injury, and long-term trauma. Since then, there has been a shift toward more structured officer wellbeing services, trauma-informed leadership, and post- incident support. The legacy of 7/7 includes not just a focus on operational effectiveness but also on caring for those who serve.
The policing landscape of the UK today is fundamentally different because of the events of 7 July 2005. The change has not always been smooth, and the debates about liberty, surveillance, and counter- extremism continue. But few would deny that policing is far more prepared, far more integrated, and far more intelligence-led than it was two decades ago. 7/7 made it clear that terrorism could strike at any moment, from within. The police service responded not just with
bravery, but with a determination to never be caught off guard again.
MET POLICE FEDERATION BRANCH CHAIR PAULA DODD SAID: “The courage and compassion shown by Metropolitan Police officers following the terrorist attacks in London on July 7 2005 will never be forgotten. Officers both on duty and off duty bravely ran towards the scenes of unimaginable atrocity - doing their best to save and preserve life. “That day, we saw the absolute best of British policing. Officers tended to the victims of this appalling attack on our city and as the hours wore on, helped to reassure frightened and worried members of the public as the reality of what had happened in our capital sunk in. “The bravery and heroism of my
colleagues on that day made me proud to be a Metropolitan Police officer. They are the best of us. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by that devastating day.”
43 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2025
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