2006-09-29 05:43:24 · 18 answers · asked by Leo 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Very few British Officers carry firearms.
The armed response unit do, and are called in to any firearm incidents.
The guiding principles are that guns are illegal to possess in UK anyway, unless you have a special licence for hunting, etc. And the public perception is that we do not want them and we do not need them on our streets.
The guiding principle is that the police themselves do not want to carry guns and neither do the public wish them to.
Obviously if gun crime suddenly shot up, and police officers were being killed then this would be reviewed.
The guiding principle is a reaction to the reality of gun crime on the street, which is still thankfully low in the UK.
2006-09-29 10:31:54 · answer #1 · answered by PEP 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The British police don't carry firearms routinely because their guiding principle is they are upholding the law with the consent of the citizenry. There are specialist firearms units if an amed response is needed, for example to an armed robbery or hostage situation.
The police officers who patrol airports are normally armed with submachineguns - the ones at my local airport carry H&K MP5s.
2006-09-29 05:52:48 · answer #2 · answered by Huh? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What you are asking about is no longer true. In the past, the British relied on what they termed the "Flying Squad" similar to our Swat Teams.
Below here is an Item that may interest you.
They Shot that man point blank without warning because they suspected him and for no other reason.
Yes British do carry guns these days, but maybe they should reconsider. Apparently their guiding principles are to Shoot first and ask questions afterwords. The man was not armed.
LONDON, England (AP) - A Brazilian man killed by British police in a dramatic subway shooting apparently had nothing to do with a series of bombing attacks on London's transit system, police said yesterday, calling the death a "tragedy" and expressing their regret.
2006-09-29 05:57:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
a man entered a school with a double barreled shotgun in the mid 90's, and began shooting. This added to other similiar offenses created a climate of gun hatred. Guns are pretty much illegal now in england (although you can get one if you get a liscence, its just a lot stricter than the US).
The UK police do not carry fire arms as they do not need to. Unlike America gun related crimes are fare less likely to occur. Suprisingly unlike america thousands of Brits do not die every year from guns. In actual event of gun confrontation, the UK police do have specially armed police officers. As a rule however brits do not carry guns, unlike americans who feel the need to carry lethal fire arms (the public and police).
The two cultures are very different though, comparing the two is not an easy thing. Unlike americans though, brits are rather more sensible with guns, they dont go out and buy semi automatic machine like guns, to hunt animals with.....
2006-09-29 05:54:41 · answer #4 · answered by Br. Benjamin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
British police forces have Armed Response Teams which they call in if the situation requires it. I feel that it would be a mistake to arm the police routinely as it would only increase gun crime.
2006-09-29 05:59:40 · answer #5 · answered by biker_mouse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We do have armed cops, but mainly in high security places like underground stations sometimes, always at airports.
For the bulk of the force though, it is true that the cops do not have armaments with them.
I imagine it is because guns are not all that common to own in England, and so police are unlikely to have the need to "disable" a crim.
2006-09-29 05:51:03 · answer #6 · answered by PollyPocket 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The U.K. has become a hotbed of firearm hatred, but I was not aware that even their police had ceased carrying. Maybe that's true for traffic cops, but I doubt it's universally so. Governments rely on the force of weaponry for their very existence.
2006-09-29 05:48:00 · answer #7 · answered by Zombie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some do.
At high security areas like airports etc. most officers are armed.
There is also a section called the Armed Response Unit who would be among the first on the scene when weapons are being used.
2006-09-29 05:54:33 · answer #8 · answered by rosbif 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who told you British police don't carry firearms, you are naive god bless you
2006-09-29 05:57:14 · answer #9 · answered by guzzler 1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is the reason the British police force is the finest in the world. It shows a dedication to duty no other force can match.
But you know what this means of course; if a british policeman wants to kill someone, he has to kick them to death!
And engage in a long drawn out cover up, involving paperwork.
(Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, Genious)
2006-09-29 05:54:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋