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Should all UK police officers be now armed?

Poll

Should ALL UK police officers carry a firearm?

With 4 terrorist attacks taking place in the UK and a police officer being killed in the line of duty with just under a year this debate has become quite common, should ALL UK police officers carry a firearm? And if so why?
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 1
Original post by The RAR
With 4 terrorist attacks taking place in the UK with just under a year this debate has become quite common, should ALL UK police officers carry a firearm? And if so why?


Yes. Self explanatory.


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Reply 2
Yes, especially those in major cities like London. It's ridiculous that if a police officer sees a guy stabbing people on the street it's hard for him to do much, as we saw from the tragic death of Keith Pledger.
No. Not unless they request it. Not all officers want to carry firearms. It wouldnt have stopped Manchester. It wouldnt have prevented a lot of Westminster bridge although it could have saved the officers life. Same with the other two.
Reply 4
No because it would show that we are fearful and it would create fear amongst the public.
Reply 5
Original post by desaf1
Yes, especially those in major cities like London. It's ridiculous that if a police officer sees a guy stabbing people on the street it's hard for him to do much, as we saw from the tragic death of Keith Pledger.


You're thinking of Keith Palmer... Keith Pledger is the guy who writes Edexcel A Level maths textbooks lmao
Reply 6
Original post by Trapz99
You're thinking of Keith Palmer... Keith Pledger is the guy who writes Edexcel A Level maths textbooks lmao

What a coincidence, I hate maths:colonhash:

Original post by 999tigger
No. Not unless they request it. Not all officers want to carry firearms. It wouldnt have stopped Manchester. It wouldnt have prevented a lot of Westminster bridge although it could have saved the officers life. Same with the other two.

I agree it wouldn't have saved Manchester as suicide bombing is a surprise attack however for Westminster a bullet could have been fired in the tyres of the car which could have slowed the car down from preventing more mayhem.
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 7
UK police need more specialist firearms officers.

There is currently no need to arm all UK police officers as long as firearms support is there when it is needed. This is what polls of serving police officers have concluded on several occasions, and this is also current police policy.

If you arm all police officers, it is also almost certain that standards would drop. UK firearms officers are currently far more highly trained than armed officers in places like New York, and the only way to equip all UK cops with guns would be to drop standards (and increase accidental or illegal police shootings) or fire huge numbers of police.

The police federation and most forces in the UK are currently aiming to equip officers with tasers, which allow them to deal with weapons more safely but without the problems associated with giving all cops guns.
Reply 8
I think we should arm them ideally but it costs money and we would need to cut spending on other sectors, perhaps welfare.
I don't feel all UK officers should carry a firearm, however a select few who have been deemed as exceptional and trustworthy should be. Especially in these tumultuous times.
I think more should have guns. They should have the right to shoot on site if someone tries to threaten or taunt them.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by sek510i

The police federation and most forces in the UK are currently aiming to equip officers with tasers, which allow them to deal with weapons more safely but without the problems associated with giving all cops guns.


tasers are the way forward :u:
Original post by The RAR
What a coincidence, I hate maths:colonhash:


I agree it wouldn't have saved Manchester as suicide bombing is a surprise attack however for Westminster a bullet could have been fired in the tyres of the car which could have slowed the car down from preventing more mayhem.


Wouldnt stop the momentum of the vehicle and there would have had to have been an officer on London bridge at the exact time. vehicles still move even if youve shot a tire.
Original post by ForestShadow
tasers are the way forward :u:


I would be surprised if they don't roll them out to all cops over the next few years. I don't like tasers, but I prefer them to dead cops or armed cops.....
Yeah sure, why not? Police with guns is working out great in America :colonhash:
Absolutely not. If police carried guns, there'd be more criminals seeking to carry guns, which would increase the overall danger posed to society.
More taser armed officers and also more specialist firearm officers is more logical.
no
Original post by sek510i
UK police need more specialist firearms officers.

There is currently no need to arm all UK police officers as long as firearms support is there when it is needed. This is what polls of serving police officers have concluded on several occasions, and this is also current police policy.

If you arm all police officers, it is also almost certain that standards would drop. UK firearms officers are currently far more highly trained than armed officers in places like New York, and the only way to equip all UK cops with guns would be to drop standards (and increase accidental or illegal police shootings) or fire huge numbers of police.

The police federation and most forces in the UK are currently aiming to equip officers with tasers, which allow them to deal with weapons more safely but without the problems associated with giving all cops guns.

You had better do some research on tasers, before you go off 'half cocked'! They have been shown to have little or no effectiveness against drug users [particularly PCP], and violent drunks. Even firearms against knife wielding crazies have been shown somewhat ineffective. A well know statistic (in police circles), is that a perp with a hunting knife, that is 10 feet away, and running at you, will have the knife buried in your chest, by the time you fire at least one shot from your .38 special service revolver into his head. Hence, your gun "did no good". This is NOT to say you shouldn't have it however!! Cheers.

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