Is It Now Time For Armed Police Patrols In Some Areas Of London?

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6442687/Scotland-Yard-considers-sending-armed-foot-patrols-tackle-gang-violence.html

[MallyJ]

Is the arming of all police people not a move towards the madness that is now America?

[retrocop]

Crossed Post Chill sorry.

[ChillDoubt]

danny:
Police can only return fire if fired upon?
Do you watch current events?

[smurfchops]

Yes Yes Yes.

[dannyk13]

Retro, sorry if I misled you.I meant within striking distance of any person he intended to attack.

[naomi24]

//Is the arming of all police people not a move towards the madness that is now America? //

Why America? I can't think of a major country where police aren't routinely armed.

[dannyk13]

Chilldoubt, where did that take place?

[naomi24]

It says Borough Market - in London.

[ChillDoubt]

Danny,
It says London Bridge Attackers on the video so at the price of appearing facetious I’d have to say: Make a wild guess.....!

[dannyk13]

Chilldoubt, you managed the facetious bit ok. The writing was too small for me to read.

[ChillDoubt]

None of these officers were shot at either and Adebelajo was stopped in his tracks before he could get any closer:

[Pyxis]

It strikes me as being the thin end of the wedge.
With knobs on.

After all, we already have an armed response that can be deployed as and when.

My feeling is that if this is accepted, it won't be long before all police are armed. :( :( :(

[Old_Geezer]

London is not a situation, it is a city.

[retrocop]

danny @1219
Going back to thejargon you may recall (Offences Against The Person Act).
If the attacker had the leathal means to effect his purpose i.e. harm,injury or death. A police officer can open fire from the other side the street if he, in his own judgement,believes the victim is likely to suffer fatal injury.The acid test whether the decision was justified is then adjudged in the warm safe environment of a Coroner's court where decisions can be made at leisure and not in nano seconds.

[spathiphyllum]

I say yes, do it, as long as they focus on violence.

[dannyk13]

Pyxis, I doubt that we will see the police armed as a force.
During my service there were several surveys taken among the officers as to whether we would think it a good idea to be armed.Each survey resulted in an emphatic no.

[dannyk13]

Retro //The acid test whether the decision was justified is then adjudged in the warm safe environment of a Coroner's court where decisions can be made at leisure and not in nano seconds//
Which is one reason why a lot of officers prefer not to be armed.

[retrocop]

danny
No officers can be made to carry firearms. In my day, long after yours I hasten to add, it was considered some officers were unsuited to train and carry firearms. There was no black mark held against them for that.
I believe I wrote in my first post that the Met would have to find volunteers first.
Back inthe late 60's at my nick there were at least five authorised firearms officres on each of three reliefs who had to draw a .38 Webley Scott from the Station Offices safe.
Nowadays where things move quicker and more violently tat is no longer a viable option.

[youngmafbog]

I say arm many of the Police, lets give them the tools to do the job.

One thing I would say though is along with that all Police must have a body cam. Protects them and the general public. And regular training, testing and more training.

But, alongside this we need to dump TROB Judiciary. We need sentencing to fit the crime. Even if it does not rehabilitate it removes them from the street.

Unfortunately our PM has no spine, and is a member of the TROB, so we wont be seeing it happen soon.

[dannyk13]

Retro//In my day, long after yours I hasten to add, //
Cheeky (also not true)