Episode 424 - Tony Long

Tony Long spend his career with the elite armed units of the Metropolitan Police in London. We discuss his journey into policing, the history of firearms in the UK, the evolution of armed officers, his officer involved shootings, organisational stress, the true cost of sensational media and much more.

tony.jpg

Top shot Tony Long is the most prolific police marksman Britain has ever seen. For 25 years, he operated in the Met’s elite specialist firearms units and was at the forefront of SO19’s fight against armed crime. Deployed on hundreds of dangerous operations, it was his duty to bring down terrorists, killers, and hostage takers, sometimes with lethal force—and with only seconds to decide. Tony has been behind some of the UK’s most controversial police shootings, but it was the death of suspected armed robber and drug dealer Azelle Rodney that brought his career to a devastating end. Tried for murder, Tony saw his life crumble around him . . . simply for doing his job. An intense read, Tony’s story raises serious issues about the responsibility that falls on the shoulders of those who risk their lives, and take the lives of others, in our name.

Tony’s Book - Lethal Force: My Life As the Met's Most Controversial Marksman