Should we arm all UK police with guns?

[SueEllen]

Jesus Christ! You must be joking.

How safe is London?

Have you walked around the UK including London with your eyes closed?

The majority of police officers in the UK are unarmed.

Unlike in the US the default position of the police is not to pull their gun out and shoot someone but expect them to co-operate and most, but not all, people do.

[SueEllen]

Personally, I would like to see our cops carry guns.

The police in this country police by the consent of the public, which is why you get situations of old ladies whacking thieves with their handbags and lorry drivers blocking joy-riders paths.

[PurpleGorilla]

The police in this country police by the consent of the public, which is why you get situations of old ladies whacking thieves with their handbags and lorry drivers blocking joy-riders paths.

Goodluck stopping a rampaging gunman with a handbag.

[Mordac]

Might save a few lives when the nutters go on the rampage...

Ideally not.

[NotAllThere]

Pepper spray and a batton.

If they are lucky, maybe a tazer.

You forgot the truncheon. Poll added as it seems to be beyond the skill of the original poster. I'm always glad to lend a hand to the disadvantaged.

As already stated - most police don't want to be armed, and the police manage to keep the peace reasonably well without needing guns. London is as safe as any other major city. The arming of police doesn't seem to make a difference.

[BrilloPad]

You forgot the truncheon. Poll added as it seems to be beyond the skill of the original poster. I'm always glad to lend a hand to the disadvantaged.

As already stated - most police don't want to be armed, and the police manage to keep the peace reasonably well without needing guns. London is as safe as any other major city. The arming of police doesn't seem to make a difference.

MF likes his brasses with a truncheon. Without lube.

[shaunbhoy]

Jesus Christ! You must be joking.

How safe is London?

Statistically, a bloody sight safer than Paris.

[PurpleGorilla]

Unfortunately armed police won't protect you from all the ***** that London is full of.

[GJABS]

Good thought chief. But the problem is with the fact that these nutters first shoot those who are armed, neutralise them and go on their rampage.

Maybe the solution is not to arm regular uniformed police, but to arm all plain-clothed detectives (many of whom spend time on the streets on an ad-hoc basis). That way the criminals won't know who to neutralise first, and are therefore always at risk of being shot.

[AtW]

There ain't enough police to cover all places, only solution is to have well trained vetted civilians who will be allowed legal concealed carrying of firearms.

Higher level local militia leaders should have access to hidden supplies of anti-tank guided missiles and anti-aircraft missiles to deal with now imminent Russian invasion