British police. Guns or no guns?

[blackjack]

I realise that in Britain gun crime is low and the need for a firearm is not often and if there is the need you have ARV's and units in the Met like S019. Despite this,in your opinion do you think regular PC's should carry firearms? I would be interested in your opinion on keeping to the traditional British police methods of not carrying a firearm/.

[Wombat311]

There are a couple of plods on here, but until they answer you, I will give my opinion.

I think the time has come (actually it came a while ago) for the bobby on the beat to be in a better position to defend himself.

We have strict gun laws and low gun crime rates also, but I would not be happy if they took my gun from me. There are plenty of ways for coppers to be killed, and not all of them involve the use of a gun.

[blackjack]

Thanks for your thoughts. I was just expecting LEO's to post the word "search"

[Oldbillplod]

Search ;)

Yes the time has come, more so now than ever before.
LEO's across the UK are being shot at, threatened and killed with firearms on an almost daily basis.
It used to make headline news but now it just falls by the wayside.
The government are too scared to make that decision, so British bobbies will continue to be threatened injured and killed until someone is big enough to stand up and make that decision.

[Wombat311]

Hmmmm.....

You also mentioned the ARV's, the problem with them is, they aren't the first response for the jobs the uniform copper goes to. You arrive at a domestic and one of the parties comes at you with a bloody great knife. It's not always practical to back off, cordon, contain and wait for the ARV. Give the poor buggers some guns I say. There is tradition, and there is ignorance.

[Valor55]

Is gun crime really that low anyway? From what I have read the bans haven't been terribly effective and gun crime is on the rise.

[Wombat311]

Is gun crime really that low anyway? From what I have read the bans haven't been terribly effective and gun crime is on the rise.

I've heard that too. And from what Bill just posted about getting shot at daily, I'd say that's a fair indication that it's time for them to be armed. Well and truly time.

[blackjack]

well it's lower than in the US

[Oldbillplod]

well it's lower than in the US

No **** Sherlock :rolleyes:

[Valor55]

well it's lower than in the US

But way higher than it should be which is the intent of their gun bans. Duh.

[mcsap]

I don't want to take a club to a knife fight.

[DeltaV]

What some people also fail to understand is that gun crime shouldn't be the only thing considered when deciding whether or not to arm British officers. It's important to look at all instances of violent crime, especially those committed with other types of weapons, such as knives.

Personally, I can't see how any LEO could do the job unarmed. I know that there is less of a 'gun culture' in Great Britain and many officers there are resistant to change, but as a LEO in the USA, I just can't see how they do it.

[fatboyjim154]

What some people also fail to understand is that gun crime shouldn't be the only thing considered when deciding whether or not to arm British officers. It's important to look at all instances of violent crime, especially those committed with other types of weapons, such as knives.

Personally, I can't see how any LEO could do the job unarmed. I know that there is less of a 'gun culture' in Great Britain and many officers there are resistant to change, but as a LEO in the USA, I just can't see how they do it.

It's 'cos we're so f'ing 'ard :D

[fatboyjim154]

BlackJack were do you live? Is it in the U.K?

The Division were I work in the MET has had five shootings since November 04, two of which have been fatal. The other three were saved by officers being close by and being able to call medics there and then. On one occasion officers were just outside the club as they were being shot!

Gun crime IS on the increase in the U.K. Especially in London and the big cities and areas that surround them.

How many more coppers need to be shot, stabbed or killed for it to be considered "high enough" to warrant routine arming?
Trust me a 21" metal baton and 100ml's of CS spary is not enough, I'd rather have a gun and not need than need one and not have it.
20 mintues waiting for armed response it a long time.

[Oldbillplod]

20 mintues waiting for armed response it a long time.

Sometimes double in my force :(