In Light Of The Increased Terrorism Threat, Should Our Police Now Be Armed?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31071922

And I mean real weapons, not these laser ones.

Britain must be the only country in the world who's police don't carry guns.

[Gromit]

We have police that are trained to use weapons and can be deployed if the need arises, such as terrorist incidents. I believe that is the best way.

It would be a mistake to have every policeman or policewoman armed all the time on our streets. There is no need for it, and I don't think the public would want it.

I don't think the statement of us being the only country where the police routinely carry weapons is true.

[Gromit]

Just checked. I couldn't find a list, but I found that the Irish Republic, New Zealand, Japan an Norway have an unarmed police force.

[DTCwordfan]

I agree with Gromit, a mistake. Let the police and security services deem where there is a threat. Our local cop would probably revert to shooting pheasant for his supper if he was armed.....

[ummmm]

AOG, Have you ever been to an airport?

[TWR]

I'm in favour of Tasers & think ALL the police forces should carry them, "regards weapons" I think it's getting to the stage that this will be the case in the future the way things are going, I also think that there should be no messing around with these cranks, shoot first ask questions later, I will more that likely get called for my views, but I live in a real world, & the real world is, Terrorism Threat as you state A.O.G.

[jno]

agree with ummmm, Heathrow is like being in a Schwarzenegger film these days, only with more bottles of Baileys on sale.

[jno]

in your real world, TWR, exactly how many terrorists have escaped because police weren't armed?

[TWR]

Exactly my point.

[anotheoldgit]

Of course we have trained armed police at airports etc, also response units ready to swing into action, but on a one to one confrontation would a threatened police officer have time to call in such a unit?

Most of us have been abroad and mingled with armed police officers, have anyone of us been in any danger of being caught in any cross fire? Neither have anyone seen a policeman shooting pheasant for his supper.

[anotheoldgit]

As we are being forever told we now live in 2015, not 1950, when a good cosh with a truncheon was usually enough to keep law and order.

[Gromit]

// have anyone of us been in any danger of being caught in any cross fire? //

Stephen Waldorf, Jean Charles de Menezes. If more police were armed, there would be more people killed by mistake.

[Zacs-Master]

The normal police don't deal with terror

[THECORBYLOON]

"
Question Author

Of course we have trained armed police at airports etc, also response units ready to swing into action, but on a one to one confrontation would a threatened police officer have time to call in such a unit? 

Most of us have been abroad and mingled with armed police officers, have anyone of us been in any danger of being caught in any cross fire?" How many regular police officers in Great Britain have been threatened by terrorists?

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// The normal police don't deal with terror ///

Are the terrorists aware of that?

[Zacs-Master]

I'm sure they are but it makes no difference. Unless unarmed police are being specifically targeted, which I'm not aware of. Should all off duty servicemen be armed? Lee Rigby?

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON

/// How many regular police officers in Great Britain have been threatened by terrorists? ///

The whole of the police force, is the answer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11352116/Terror-threat-to-UK-police-increased.html

[Zacs-Master]

Love how the picture shows an armed police officer.

[Gromit]

We were more at risk of terrorist attacks in the 1970s and 80s than we are now.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_Great_Britain

We didn't routinely arm the police then, so we shouldn't now.

There is no evidence that countries with an armed policeforce are safer. Ignoring the obvious comparison with the United States, Australia which has armed police has nearly 3 times more murders by gun than the UK.

[DTCwordfan]

We may as well arm the citizens of the UK too....bet you would love that!

[THECORBYLOON]

ANOTHEOLDGIT, there is a general threat but I am asking about specific bobbies being threatened by a terrorist. If bobbies were routinely armed, I would be more concerned about an increase in criminals carrying guns.