Unarmed British police. Funeral today

[billscottmorri]

One of the two English police officers killed in a gun and grenade attack was buried today in Manchester bringing the city to a silent standstill.

Hats off to those people who put themselves literally between the public and those who would do them harm.

The overwhelming unarmed British cop is still one of the wonders of the modern world.

[Selous]

Article and vid;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...bystander.html

[Kevinmeath]

Haven't they still asked not to be armed I seem to remember a police officers conference vote.

[billscottmorri]

Originally Posted by Kevinmeath

Haven't they still asked not to be armed I seem to remember a police officers conference vote.

Yes, still a huge majority of cops in the UK reject being armed in normal duties.

[copenhagen]

I didn't want to carry a weapon in normal duties...

[billscottmorri]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

I didn't want to carry a weapon in normal duties...

You were on the force?

[redcoat]

Originally Posted by Kevinmeath

Haven't they still asked not to be armed I seem to remember a police officers conference vote.

Yes, they are still against regular police officers carrying firearms.

It should be noted that these are the first UK police officers serving in Great Britain (but not NI) to be killed in an incident involving guns since 2007. The last police officer before this horrific event to be murdered in the line of duty was in 2009, when an officer was deliberately run down by a criminal in a car who was attempting to escape.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...e_line_of_duty

[copenhagen]

Originally Posted by billscottmorri

You were on the force?

I was in the Met. 10 years ago. I was a probationer and ultimately felt it wasn't for me. I'm not some old sweat with lots of tales to tell. However I did fancy a bit of SO19 at the time, they always had some cool kit. Didn't want to carry a weapon as a regular plod though...

[Half Pint John]

Arming COP's is not the only answer and it isn't even 100% insurance for them. Back in the 90s of so, a man was cornered by 5 armed German police. He managed to kill two and wound three with a 35cm knife until he was shot dead by one of the wounded COPS.

[Andy H]

Hi

Whilst the rank & file have remained admirably unarmed, they've certainly beefed up there armed response units over the decades, and I think on the whole this is the way it should be.

Given the nature of their deaths, their being armed would have changed nothing, sadly.

Regards

[copenhagen]

Originally Posted by Andy H

Hi

Whilst the rank & file have remained admirably unarmed, they've certainly beefed up there armed response units over the decades, and I think on the whole this is the way it should be.

Given the nature of their deaths, their being armed would have changed nothing, sadly.

Regards

My problem is that the police and its been creeping up inthe last decade or so is in many respects our police have stopped looking like police officers and started looking like para-military soldiers... Sorry don't like it...

[Andy H]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

My problem is that the police and its been creeping up inthe last decade or so is in many respects our police have stopped looking like police officers and started looking like para-military soldiers... Sorry don't like it...

Hi Cope

Can't say I disagree with you but just a sign of the times in many respects-anti-stab vests, numerous radios/phones, and a plethora of other equipment hanging of a near military style web-belt.
The days of Carry on Constable, with just your truncheon, whistle and hand cuffs are long gone.

Regards

[llkinak]

I'd just like to comment on the vast difference that orgainzational culture can make. I visited England, Scotland, and Wales in 2010 and had occasion to meet both some of your armed and unarmed officers. They were all extremely friendly and taken as a whole seemed to be a professional bunch. From a US law enforcement perspective the thought of being unarmed is very, very, strange. The thought of officers requesting to remain so is even stranger from our perspective, however I freely admit that yours is a different police culture than ours and your system seems to work every bit as well as the US version.

At any rate, my condolences go out to the families and friends of the officers. I do hope they find some comfort. Having attended more than enough of those funerals I can say that emotions can run high, and the officers from that orgainzation must watch each other closely so as not to over react to threats they regularly encounter on the street. Losing officers, friends really, can be hard on any department, but I can only imagine the potential impact it could have in a country where none have been shot and killed since 2007, as I understand it.