Guns And Cops In England

[lady cop]

Bothwell just called me and told me about this, i am so angry!! i know we've talked about guns in the UK before, i just hate that the average cops can't carry guns!! i know the philosophy behind it, but the times have changed! perhaps i simply relate to this woman officer too much. ...do any of the citizens of UK think this policy needs to be reconsidered?-Female officer shot dead in city
One female police officer is killed and another seriously injured during a shooting in Bradford.
Shock over police shooting death
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[Bez]

I've just been watching the news....a shocking waste of life....guns for police ?....I think we'll be moving towards this....I'm probably 70% in favour at the moment.

We definitely need harsher penalties for these crimes. We're far too soft in the UK in my opinion.

[lady cop]

in my personal opinion cops in uniform with no gun might as well have a bullseye painted on their backs.

I know this is a very emotive subject, least of all for a serving police officer such as yourself LC but the fact is these shootings are very rare. A police officer was shot last in the UK about 2 years ago. There are armed response units and most large police offices all have officers that are trained and have access to firearms. It is quite common to see UK police officers in certain places such as airports, armed.

It has to be said though LC, you are viewing this from your perspective and that would obviously colour your opinion towards our law enforcement being permanently armed. They and I would take a different view.

[Uncle Kram]

Remember years ago as a kid hearing a Police view that arming the force would lead to an escalation in the use of firearms by unsavoury types. As we're generally considered to lag a few years behind the U.S., I think we've been lucky to remain gun-free for as long as we have. Most gun crime appears to be territorial and drug related. Can't see how the police can remain unarmed for much longer as shootings seem to be dramatically increasing. Think there's a generation coming who share a romanticised view of guns thanks to rap etc

[pantsonfire321@aol.com]

A sad waste of life - i used to be in the met years ago when even the met vest(stabvest) wasnt compulsory. Times are changing an i think we do need more armed officers but not a full armed force .

[Bez]

Originally Posted by lady cop

in my personal opinion a cop in uniform with no gun might as well have a bullseye painted on their backs.

It's a different culture here LC. In towns and villages police were part of the community (the village Bobby). While this is not happening so much now because a lot of the small Police starions have closed down, I do believe that they are striving to restore this again.... when I say 70% in favour of police carrying guns, I guess I'm thinking that in known troubled city areas it might be appropriate. Arnolds post is a very balanced view I feel.

[lady cop]

i admit my bias, and i have a very romantic view of small villages and bobbies, but sadly it's true the drug and gun culture has encroached on a larger society of thugs. ......geeze, i have the entire "thin blue line" series, and i love the traditional bobby. but they need protection.

Originally Posted by lady cop

i admit my bias, and i have a very romantic view of small villages and bobbies, but sadly it's true the drug and gun culture has encroached on a larger society of thugs. ......geeze, i have the entire "thin blue line" series, and i love the traditional bobby. but they need protection.

I have a vision of you, when you live here, of jumping out from behind a bush and shouting at some poor scrote "hit the floor *******, before I fill you with lead " or whatever it is you cops say. You'll have to ween your self off

[lady cop]

Originally Posted by ArnoldLayne

I have a vision of you, when you live here, of jumping out from behind a bush and shouting at some poor scrote "hit the floor *******, before I fill you with lead " or whatever it is you cops say. You'll have to ween your self off

more like FREEZE M*************R! ...yeah, Bothwell is worried about that too.