Re: Police Officier shot dead

Twinkle! I had no idea! We agree!

On the other hand, however politicians feel right now, I think that when murder and terrorism increases beyond the present frequency to an unacceptable level, we shall see their minds change rapidly, especially when public opinion changes accordingly.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

I hope you are right JBR, but I consider most politicians to be too weak to even suggest it!

Re: Police Officier shot dead

I have been reading this thread and the view of some that the police should not be armed.
I like how some people don’t mind the unarmed police being sitting ducks for anybody to take a pop at them and ending their lives which are just as precious too.

Would you expect a soldier to go to war without a gun?
You might say a soldier is in a war situation. I think these days, it is becoming a war on the streets for the police.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

Well said, Angel.

I see no reason why our police cannot have the same protection as their colleagues in other European countries.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

They might if it guaranteed them re-election.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

I would love to know how we compare to Europe. I think generally people are better behaved in countries like Spain and France due to the fact that police carry guns. Myself and some friends were once searched in France (just for the sake of it and we were not even black) but we certainly knew not to mess with them.

Having said that, I'm not sure that our own police have the correct mentality to be armed. I can see them shooting old ladies whilst the terrorists get a free pizza.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

Present company excepted there's a few "old ladies" that SHOULD be shot - and that's not a smart-arse comment.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

I suspect that that may be down to those at the top and, of course, politicians.

i think the first thing I would do is get rid of that 'accelerated promotion' thing which invites graduates (no doubt in 'social studies'!) to become senior officers without having any experience of 'boots on the ground' policing.

Next would be to get rid of those who were promoted as above, perhaps by promoting them again to work in obscure offices shuffling papers but with absolutely no say in how the police service operates.

Then rename the Police Service to the Police Force, which it once was!

Re: Police Officier shot dead

Hi

Arming all Police Officers would have had no effect at all in this situation.

It was a secure area, where guns are not carried, with good reason.

They can be taken by detainees and then used to threaten officers to break out.

Armed officers leave their guns when entering a secure area specifically to prevent this happening.

The issue here is that a detainee, handcuffed, managed to smuggle a gun in.

I do not know the current working practices of the Met.

I do know that in other forces they are scanned before entry.

Officers in secure areas have tasers and batons, which are more than adequate to control handcuffed prisoners before a strip search, if required.

The last Police Officers before this killed by firearms where in 2012, a gun and grenade attack, being armed would not have prevented it.

We have specialist firearms unit on patrol.

They are very efficient.

Re: Police Officier shot dead

I can see it now.... the usual well known get out of jail phrase reeled out.... ‘Lessons will be learned’