Law And Order Tonight

[sandyRoe]

A chap, a thoroughly bad lot, was acquitted of a murder charge but as he went to leave the dock someone snatched a pistol from a guard and shot him dead. Are there armed guards in UK courts?

[hc4361]

In some cases, like this one

"Further checks will be carried out inside the courthouse for access to Court 1 where the trial will take place as uniformed officers, some armed, stand guard and patrol inside the courthouse."
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/04/dale-cregan-trial-150-pol_n_2613960.html

[sandyRoe]

I'd thought the UK version might have been blindly following the American episode its based on and had introduced weapons where there wouldn't have been any.
I see now that there are weapons in courts sometimes.

[scooping]

Occasionally, rarely. Seen it only once. Manchester gangsters.
More often, terrorist charges. Special Branch/anti-terrorist Squad etc.

[hc4361]

Although I don't think it would be that easy for even a highly trained soldier to grab the gun and shoot the defendant.
Good tv, though :)

[Peter Pedant]

No
there are not
and frequently no police men

Dale Cregan- the one eyed cop-killa - was definitely a special case
[ and everyone welcomed the over-time ]

[chrissa1]

Wasn't the guy who was guarding Henry, carrying a gun? I think it was his gun that she snatched. Not sure if that would be allowed in real life though.