Forum Topic

Should our Police be armed or not

After the latest police shooting, ending in one police women dead and one badly injured its bound to bring up the old question whether or not our police should be armed.I’m sitting on the fence at the moment, how do others feel about our police being armed.

Paul Allen ● 7121d15 Comments

I would like to know what the police at the sharp end feal about this subject.

Paul Allen ● 7120d

There are certain circumstances where an umbrella dart in the leg is called for - Anthony Walker would be a good example followed by this Police shooting.It is about time sentences meant business and if it means using underwater submarines to house the scum of the planet, then so be it.

Sarah Felstead ● 7120d

I would be cautious in advocating arming the police in the U.K.  I live in a country where the police are armed, and also a big percentage of the population! This makes for an unusually high number of accidental shootings among the population, and there are instances of "trigger happy police"        The authorities should do more to make it tougher for criminals to obtain guns, and if they commit a crime with a gun, they should have the punishment fit the crime.     It would be interesting to have the views of the police officers, on whether they would be for carrying guns.  My husband was in the London Metropolitan Police years ago, all he had for protection was a truncheon, which I'm sure he never had to use. I realize that the UK is a different place nowadays. so sad.

Doris M. Lediard ● 7120d

Paul,U.K., New Zealand and add to them the Republic of Ireland where the Garda Siochana are not armed.Some years ago, IRA bank robbers killed an unarmed garda and today there is talk of releasing the thugs under the 'amnesty' arrangement, although the government is reluctant in this one case ..I think it will be the bitter end if they are left out of gaol.

Ann S. Allridge ● 7120d

Something needs to be done rather quickly as fire arms are now being use for the smallest of crimes, where one wrong move by the innocent party could mean their death.Somebody, be it a Politician or a Chief Constable has to stop scoring points and get their finger out and work together to protect the general public.The Justice system is a joke; the punishment no longer fits the crime, and political correctness has gone mad when a small incident takes a police officer off the streets for hours to complete there paper work.We need the police on the streets where they can been seen and anyone who takes there life has no human rights.     

Paul Allen ● 7120d

An interesting debate. A brief look at comparable murder rates where a gun was used shows that New Zealand and the UK are ranked the 31st and 32nd most murderous countries on a per capita case. (Shttp://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_mur_wit_fir_cap&int=-1ee)The Goverment took the 'listen to Police' approach with the recent Terrorism Bill. The Police wanted to detain suspects for up to 90 days, a majority of MPs decided that the Police were wrong. I hope that the terrible crime in Bradford doesn't lead to a quick-fix, ill-thought-out law that could build up more problems in the long run and that we can continue to train Officers to use firearms safely when the need to do so is there.

Matt Harmer ● 7120d

An interesting debate. A brief look at comparable murder rates where a gun was used shows that New Zealand and the UK are ranked the 31st and 32nd most murderous countries on a per capita case. (Shttp://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_mur_wit_fir_cap&int=-1ee)The Goverment took the 'listen to Police' approach with the recent Terrorism Bill. The Police wanted to detain suspects for up to 90 days, a majority of MPs decided that the Police were wrong. I hope that the terrible crime in Bradford doesn't lead to a quick-fix, ill-thought-out law that could build up more problems in the long run and that we can continue to train Officers to use firearms safely when the need to do so is there.

Matt Harmer ● 7120d

If it is political, isn’t it about time the Police force turn around to the government and say we cannot do the job with adequate protection for all our officers, other wise its going to be the armed gangs ruling are streets rather than them.After the armed robbery of two people walking between Chiswick School and Chiswick Station, demanding money and walking away with £30.00, it won’t be long before guns are used to nick mobile phone of the kids in the area.The Police have to ignore the politicians, regain public support and go in hard now.         

Paul Allen ● 7121d

the politicians would see it as a community relations nightmare, it comes down to political point scoring, nothing to do with homeland security, they want a non confrontational police force, hence the introduction of PCSO's pushing police behind desks doing the paperwork of the PCSO's  only the uk and new zealand are the only 2 forces in the world not armed. at the end of the day it comes down to politics

Dave Vokes ● 7121d

I am sure the police in Northern Ireland are armed, and - the hateful past decades of violence apart - they seem to behave in exactly the same way the policemen do in London and all over the U.K.  They still direct traffic, answer calls to homes, etc., and have the respect of the people they protect.Yes, arm the police.  Let's face it, the 'gangsters' are all armed today.  Why should a policeman/woman be expected to walk into situations where the criminal is armed and the policeman/woman is not?

Ann S. Allridge ● 7121d

If the police were armed the way policing in the uk would dramatically change every incident the police attended from a neighbor dispute to an armed incident. Police in this country at present have the ability to deal with incidents with a little more freedom because the security of the firearm is not an issue.in the uk the police do not have enough respect from the general public unlike those in the US or in Europe, mainly down to the stupid laws, joke of a justice system, (100 hrs community service for committing a burglary or 7 days imprisonment for not paying council tax!!!!!!) and everyone hell bent on making life more difficult because by complaining what the police/government do in order to protect us may breach their human rights. Yet America and elsewhere in Europe have police forces that are respected The Police should train every single recruit at training school in the use, tactics and laws of the use of fire arms this would mean that every officer is trained yet not necessarily carrying a firearm all the time with regular training to keep them up to date with training and law.  By doing this would enable each London borough decided whether their officers carry them or not based on the current risk assessment.The other option is to issue every officer with Tazer the stun gun a less lethal option but apparently effective, giving the officers a little extra protection on the street for both themselves and the public.Unfortunately the police WILL NOT be armed all the time the government are in power, we have governments that are more interested in scoring political points against one another than the safety of the public and voting together on issues.The police do a good job considering all the paperwork and stresses they are under, they spend hours after arresting someone doing all the paperwork, just for that person to be told you’re a naughty boy have a fine which often doesn’t match cost of the officers overtime or the hard work so can you blame them when they say “why do I bother” 

Dave Vokes ● 7121d

From the BBC News                                                            Debate over whether to arm police The murder of a policewoman by a gang of robbers in Bradford has reignited debate over whether all police should carry guns and wear body armour. Home Office minister Hazel Blears has rejected calls for officers to be routinely armed. That could endanger the police's relationship with the public, she said. But film director Michael Winner, founder of the Police Memorial Trust, said if officers were armed they would have "a better chance of retaliation". Ms Blears said what happened in Bradford highlighted "the fact that police officers right across the country put their lives on the line in many cases in order to protect the rest of us". How much longer can this go on? Would criminals not think twice when faced by a police officer holding a firearm? Arm them now, give them the protection they deserve John Mizon, York In the wake of the Bradford shooting, the Police Federation has called for more armed response units. "When we did a survey three years ago of all police officers, over 80% of police officers said they did not believe that every police officer should be routinely armed," she told BBC News. "They did, however, express concern that not sufficient officers were trained to carry firearms. "I do think that the resilience of the police officers, in terms of having enough firearms officers, is extremely questionable at the moment and that will need to be properly debated." 'Informed debate' Pc Norman Brennan, director of Protect the Protectors, welcomed an "informed debate" and a ballot of all officers on "the full time arming of the British police service". The adage that if you arm the police more criminals will carry guns is nonsense Pc Norman Brennan Protect the Protectors  "The adage that if you arm the police more criminals will carry guns is nonsense. "The police service are being outgunned on the streets of Britain day and night." He said that if the routine carrying of firearms meant officers retained the confidence of the public "then so be it". Mr Winner is among the most vocal advocates of guns for all officers. "The criminals are armed with guns and knives, with weapons that kill the police and I think they should have a better chance of retaliation," he said. However, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has said 90% of the Met is unarmed and he "wants to keep it that way". 'Stiffer punishments' Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "We mustn't make massive decisions until we know exactly what happened. "Was the equipment at fault, what could have been done to prevent this? "Then we need to review the equipment we have available, look at the way we deploy to calls, so that any officer who's being sent to a job knows that they've got the best support possible." Mr Fox called on the courts to issue stiffer punishments to offenders caught carrying weapons. "They should get the very maximum sentences - throw away the key, for me," he said. Meanwhile, the chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation has talked about the problems of issuing officers with protective body armour. We've got to weigh up the issue of protection and practical issues enabling officers to do their jobs Tom McGhie West Yorkshire Police Federation  Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was wearing armour providing limited protection but the bullet penetrated her chest. Tom McGhie said: "We've got to weigh up the issue of protection and practical issues enabling officers to do their jobs. "There are types of body armour which offer a much higher level of ballistic protection but the problem is they would be almost unwearable." But Pc Joe Holness, who set up a National Memorial Day to honour officers who lost their lives while on duty, told BBC News that all officers should wear bullet proof vests. "It's only right and proper that officers patrolling the streets are properly protected and to wear body armour that is both stab proof and ballistic is something that would assist in that regard," he said. A Home Office spokesman said the equipment used was decided on by chief officers of each police force. Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/4451640.stmPublished: 2005/11/19 22:55:42 GMT© BBC MMV

Paul Allen ● 7121d

Ina You must be so angry and disappointed with that police inactivity. One can only assume that they just don't have enough staff...or that are too busy behind the scenes..on other matters..which we are not suppose to ask questions about.I hope that the Brentford Police see your report..by their reading this Forum from time to time..or that the local Councillors for your ward can report the matter. Its just a joke isn't it?

Jim Lawes ● 7121d

It would actually be nice if there were police available to attend incidents, whether at the time or even some stage after. I was in a car accident of friday night, the police could not attend, they could not attend the hospital, nor could they attend my home in the morning despite my having a spinal injury. Instead i had to go all the way to hounslow police station, where i STOOD waiting for 3 hours before i even got to speak to a police officer!!! How about just getting more police?????

Ina Chureetur ● 7121d

All guns and all replica guns should be banned..unless held by the Armed Forces or detachments of the Police. Full stop.But hang on ....the Farmer in Osterley Park has an active gun to ward off undesirable pests. Handling guns is an Olympic sport too, people go clay-pigeon shooting, there's a knife and gun culture in parts of north-west london and it could move south..guns appear in bank raids..and at those Heathrow Warehouse gem raids...indeed a local neighbour from hell has aimed and fired his airgun at one of my vans in the past...and there's a lad down the road who was firing pellets at Piccadilly Line trains just along the way...yes give the Police guns..quickly. We need to support the Police. What do the Police Federation say?

Jim Lawes ● 7121d