More armed police on London streets

[Bubbles]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36961338

Sad, IMO Britain was different in that respect from many countries.

I wonder how long it will be before someone gets trigger happy?

 

Egypt has lots of armed Police.

One helped me cross from one boat to another on the Nile, once.

His gun was more of a hindrance and I found it alarming in some ways.

Especially as he was so aware of it, you can't just put it down somewhere while you help someone or give it to someone else for a while.

It doesn't encourage Policemen to offer a helping hand, when needed.

 

[Brownie]

The BBC link is about specialist firearms officers which we already have.  Their numbers will increase.  The turn up in particular situations like potential terrorist attacks, hostage taking, taking over a building threatening to kill everyone, riots etc.   I've never seen an armed police officer and I doubt many have in this country.

I take on board everything you said Rose and agree, I'd hate to see a Bobby on the beat carrying a gun, but we won't notice the armed police unless something very serious happens wherever we are, in which case we'd probably be glad of them.

[Bubbles]

The BBC link is about specialist firearms officers which we already have.  Their numbers will increase.  The turn up in particular situations like potential terrorist attacks, hostage taking, taking over a building threatening to kill everyone, riots etc.   I've never seen an armed police officer and I doubt many have in this country.

I take on board everything you said Rose and agree, I'd hate to see a Bobby on the beat carrying a gun, but we won't notice the armed police unless something very serious happens wherever we are, in which case we'd probably be glad of them.

Yes, I think you are right.

[BeRational]

Yes, I think you are right.

I cycle along the canal most evenings for pleasure, and cam across two armed officers, which was quite alarming.

They asked if I had seen a man dressed in a long coat, which I hadn't, but continued my ride making sure I avoided any such character!

[floo]

I fear it is the slippery slope to arming all police!

[BeRational]

I am not that concerned about arming the police.

[floo]

I am not that concerned about arming the police.

Well I am.

[Brownie]

I'd be concerned about arming all police and admit I have never seen an armed police officer, except on TV.  However we've always had them, a highly skilled specialist force.  I believe CID occasionally use firearms, they are trained to use them, in fact all police are trained but not to the degree of the specialist officers.

[BeRational]

Well I am.

What worries you?

[floo]

What worries you?

That we will get like the US where the police appear to have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later!

[Harrowby Hall]

I'd be concerned about arming all police and admit I have never seen an armed police officer, except on TV.

Have you never travelled from a major airport?

I have seen them at Gatwick and Birmingham.

[Brownie]

Not recently HH, last few times I went abroad was on Eurostar.  Long time since I've flown.  No, never seen them (knowing me, just as likely I didn't notice them).

I understand what floo is saying, I like the fact that coppers generally don't walk around with guns but that isn't being proposed.

[BeRational]

Have you never travelled from a major airport?

I have seen them at Gatwick and Birmingham.

I assumed they are at every airport.

I recently came back from Cyprus and there they had what looked like soldiers as well

[BeRational]

That we will get like the US where the police appear to have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later!

Do they do that?

I have been in the US and had no fear of the police.

[Udayana]

The more guns on the street, the more accidental shootings or incorrectly identified targets or other mistaken use. Including friendly fire incidents where innocent passers by and police themselves have been shot.

[BeRational]

The more guns on the street, the more accidental shootings or incorrectly identified targets or other mistaken use. Including friendly fire incidents where innocent passers by and police themselves have been shot.

The more armed police, the more effective they can be against armed offenders.

Unarmed against armed is not going to work.

[Brownie]

I think what floo is worried about is that the increase in armed police is the thin end of the wedge, ie that it will lead to police carrying guns into situations where there are no weapons which in turn could lead to police firing when there is no threat to life.

That would worry me too but I can't see it happening.  It's a possibility of course but that is not what is being proposed at the moment.  Everything will remain as it is except the firearms squad will increase, in keeping with terrorist threats etc.

[Aruntraveller]

I don't think Floo needs to worry - the Spanish police for example, regularly carry firearms and there is no significant increase in gun deaths as a result.

The USA situation is, I would argue, atypical as far as police being armed - in that there are other societal factors at work there that make the use of firearms more likely - either because of what they are faced with or because of an over eagerness to respond with guns when other lesser means of restraint are ignored.

[Brownie]

Plus the fact that it is legal for civilians to possess firearms in many states.

[Bubbles]

I think what floo is worried about is that the increase in armed police is the thin end of the wedge, ie that it will lead to police carrying guns into situations where there are no weapons which in turn could lead to police firing when there is no threat to life.

That would worry me too but I can't see it happening.  It's a possibility of course but that is not what is being proposed at the moment.  Everything will remain as it is except the firearms squad will increase, in keeping with terrorist threats etc.

It's already happened

There was that Brazilian chap they shot a few years ago, who was innocent.

I think Floo might foresee more of those.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07/06/jean-charles-de-menezes-death-anniversary_n_7714488.html

Having easier access to guns by the police might make that sort of thing more likely.

[Brownie]

I remember that!  In Brixton or Stockwell iirc.  I've no idea why a whole bunch of coppers with guns were sent to find him in the first place when his only crime was that his visa had expired.  A pair of PCs knocking at his door would have sufficed.  No wonder he ran!

Did the cops think he was someone else?  I can't remember the details.

At the time lots of people on forums were saying it was his fault for running and that they wouldn't run away from the police if they were innocent.  D'oh!   I would if I was young and fit enough - leap over fences and scale walls, swing from tree to tree, dive into the Thames and swim......getting carried away now (don't say I need to be).

[floo]

There are frequently cases in America of the police shooting dead someone who turned out to be unarmed, especially if they are black!

The gun culture in that country has caused so many atrocities, especially on college campuses. Now Texas is allowing students to have guns in their possession when attending classes, that is only going to make matters far worse, imo. 

[Brownie]

Can't argue with that.

[L.A.]

I remember that!  In Brixton or Stockwell iirc.  I've no idea why a whole bunch of coppers with guns were sent to find him in the first place when his only crime was that his visa had expired.  A pair of PCs knocking at his door would have sufficed.  No wonder he ran!
. . .

As far as I recall the case, the police weren't initially after him for the visa irregularity. It was as a case of mistaken identity, but when he fled and headed into the underground, they believed that he was a suicide bomber about to cause a massacre.

Remember that it was only a few days after the 7/7 bombings.

[jeremyp]

The more armed police, the more effective they can be against armed offenders.

Unarmed against armed is not going to work.

here in the UK that is a situation that rarely arises.