The Metropolitan Police has admitted it was wrong not to formally review its use of the 'hard stop' tactic deployed in the shooting of Mark Duggan.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) recommended a review of the tactic - in which armed, plain-clothed officers in police vehicles deliberately intercept a vehicle to confront suspects - in 2005, saying it posed a "high-risk" to the public, suspects and officers.

The recommendation was made at the unlawful killing of suspected drug dealer Azelle Rodney in 2005.

In a statement, the Met police said: “It was wrong not to formally review the tactic in 2005 following the IPCC recommendation.

“This is a national tactic to which we subscribe.

“However, following the result of the Azelle Rodney enquiry, an interim review has been completed by the College of Policing and the MPS will now work with the college and the national lead to see if there are any alternative or better tactics available in Europe or the rest of the world.”

The 'hard stop' tactic was used on Mark Duggan as he travelled through Ferry Lane, Tottenham, in August 2011.

He was returning from collecting a gun when the minicab he was travelling in was pulled over and he was shot dead by an armed officer after getting out of the cab.

On 8 January, an inquest jury concluded by a majority of eight to two that he was lawfully killed.

Mr Duggan's family have said he was "executed" and that they will fight for justice.

The police statement added: “We do many hundreds of these operations a year and it is extremely rare for shots to be fired. This is because of the professionalism, training and restraint of armed officers.

“The alternative to using this tactic is to allow highly dangerous criminals who get into cars with guns intent on committing harm to carry out the crime, only investigating it afterwards, with potentially catastrophic consequences for their target.

“Alternatively we could intervene early and disrupt the crime but this may fail to gain sufficient evidence to prosecute them.

"They will then go free to plan more criminality but now they will be forewarned.”

According to the police, of the eight people killed during pre-planned operations in the last decade only two have happened during a ‘hard stop’ tactic.