Armed Police Officers? Police Officers/staff?

cops should get squirt guns thats it~

Personally Im serving in Ireland so Im not going to answer for the UK but theres one sure truth, once the UK arms we will have to and that day is coming.

Im with you on this, I dont want to carry a gun at the moment because the reality of my job is mostly fighting with drunks and other forms of moderate violence. I dont think you can shoot an unarmed drunk even in the US so what use is a gun to me? He might also get his hands on it and shoot me so personally I think the cons outweigh the pros. I do however think we need stun guns and more armed officers or possible routine firearms training and the patrol vehicles to have 1 or 2 firearms held within. The other thought is what to use when, pepperspray is no use against a guy high as a kite on drugs with a machete or similar. Should a cop run home, get a sabre and have a fair duel?

On a side note, the arguement against seems to run on the lines that A, criminals wont need guns and B, The US has worse gun crime.

Well lets look at that. A, Ever heard of gangland shootings? Gunchester and in Ireland both Dublin and Limerick. Ever heard of armed robbery? Its against the law because it happens and finally the plain old truth that even legally held guns can be misused for a variety of reasons. Cops in the UK and Ireland have and will be shot dead, injured or maimed by criminals.

B, Very true and accurate however people always forget the other countries with armed police, the UK and Ireland is not at the top of the safe countries in the world. Japan has the lowest (last I heard) gun crime but yet they are armed. Canada does well too as does most european countries.

It does seem to be getting to the point where British police may have to start carrying side arms instead of them being locked in a safe in the back of a police car. Someone pointed out earlier that the 'English' police are unarmed...I think you forgot to mention Wales and Scotland. Most officers I know would tell you that they would rather hold out as long as possible before openly carrying guns. There is the notion that if they were armed, criminals may be even more inclined to use deadly force against the police. It's nice to see some good sensible, mature posts here on this subject, elsewhere on Answers, there do seem to be the usual police hating, no brain scum bags. Wonder who these people call when they're in danger?!! But yes, I do think that it's inevitable that our police will eventually have to be armed.

In my personal experience, a UK firearms incident usually involves a stand off for hours or days until the suspect backs down. This however is obviously better than someone getting shot.

As for being armed, I'd see it as another tool in the armoury, as it were and probably the last thing I'd go for as a tactical option unless I was being faced with a gun by the criminal. I personally feel that incapacitant spray is a better option as it doesn't cause any lasting damage, one of the reasons why I've always gone for that option rather than hitting someone with a baton. However an incapacitant spray is no use against a gun.

Having said that, as gun crime is getting worse in the UK and indeed in my own city, I think the policy of arming officers should be looked at again.

One big obstacle to this though in the UK is PACE and the human rights act as these both get twisted to suit the criminal. Until these policies are re-thought, our hands, as ever, are tied.

Keep in mind that just because the police don't carry weapons, doesn't mean the bad guys don't already. The reason you DO have 5% of people with guns is BECAUSE there are illegal weapons over there. Besides, the only thing that gun control is going to affect are the law abiding citizens. The people who want to break the laws, especially that one, are going to, no matter what. I think, as far as UK goes, that the police officers SHOULD have weapons, but still keep it illegal for private citizens to carry. That way there will be a limit on the illegal weapons activity.

I don't think were very far off at all from having an armed service.. And most certainly need a larger amount of armed officers to back up others of course there are also less lethal approaches such as tazer of which the federation as forwarded it views.

The service it self has a responsibility to look after its officers. I certainly don't enjoy having to wait for armed officer to arrive. If there were more of them we'd all be safer..

The fact is most criminal elements are all ready armed just look at the officers who have recently been shot,stabbed etc..Sad but true..

Police Officers a stupid if they don't carry their firearm at all times. I'm not just talking on duty, even off duty. I carry mine all the time, because you never know when you are going to have to use it. You can come up on a shooting in the mall, a robbery taking place, or a shoot out somewhere out on the streets. Police Officers work 24 hours around the clock to make sure that the citizens are safe from any criminals.

It will happen in the future but we need a huge change in government and policy regarding use of force.

I feel sorry for any police officer who has to actually use a firearm in defence of himself or another. Look at the recent media hysteria over the CCTV of UK police office attempting to restrain a violent, drunk woman.

Imagine how it must be for a police officer who actually shoots someone.

I feel for you guys in England. Fact of the matter is, you're policey makers have yet to realize what we in America realized a long time ago... regardless of whether or not you have handguns, criminals do. Its not like they proscribe to the same rules you do, after all. Weapons are NOT hard to get. Yes, they may be a tad bit harder to get in the UK, but I can assure you, the criminal element knows where to get them if they want them bad enough.

I personally wouldn't like carrying a gun, the idea of killing someone deliberately is one of the things that put me off joining the airforce and dropping bombs on people.

I don't think I could wilfully end a life, getting into a fight with a crook and chucking them in a cell i can live with, killing them is a bit much.

The offender could take the firearm off them and use it against them and how do you know the government hasn't got plans to arm the police with firearms in the near future