12:38pm UK, Wednesday September 21, 2005

The military could be hired by chief constables to work as temporary armed police, Britain's top policeman has suggested.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair called on officers to be "bold" and consider a range of radical changes to police pay and working practices.

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Sir Ian Blair

Sir Ian's proposals on using soldiers as firearms officers are hugely controversial after the mistaken shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in July.

"Could we bring staff directly in from the armed forces, give them a small amount of basic training and then clear instructions as to their firearms duties," he said.

Other civilians could be brought in on short-term contracts to carry out surveillance and financial investigations or to work as mounted officers or underwater search teams.

Sir Ian made the suggestions in a speech to the Police Superintendents' Association conference in Warwickshire.

He also set himself on a collision course with rank and file officers by demanding the abolition of the body which negotiates police pay.

He told delegates: "We should press for the abolition of the Police Negotiating Board and move towards regional agreements around pay and conditions for police officers."

Earlier this month Sir Ian revealed plans for major changes in the Met, including asking his officers to patrol individually rather than in pairs.