Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said that his officers had to make terrifying, quick, life-threatening decisions.

Israel’s methods for tackling Arab suicide bombers have emerged as the model for Britain’s technique of shooting suspects through the head. Lord Stevens, who was Sir Ian’s predecessor, disclosed Israel’s role, writing yesterday in the News of the World.

Sir Ian expressed regrets to the family of Jean Charles de Menezes and said that his force accepted full responsibility for the tragedy of the innocent Brazilian’s killing.

But he told Sunday with Adam Boulton on Sky News: “It’s still happening out there. There are still officers having to make these calls. Somebody else could be shot.

“Everything is done to make it right, but this is a terrifying set of circumstances. People should be grateful that they don’t have to take those decisions. There’s nothing gratuitous in what’s going on. There is no conspiracy to shoot people. I am very aware that minority communities are talking about a shoot-to-kill policy.”

Sir Ian also appealed for Muslim communities to help the police “find methods of identifying people drifting into extremism”.

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