Why not British Police allowed to carry Guns?

Answer 1

Cause Britain is proper and all suited up.

Answer 2

It sounds like a few here are referring to the De Menezez case. Give it up. It's news BECAUSE it's out of the ordinary. How many American shootings make such a news impact? They don't because they're a drop in the ocean.
The British police are taking the opportunity to make sure they are not left powerless against possible armed criminals, yet at the same time keeping weapons restricted. That is why the police have special 'Armed Response Units' and not every officer with a gun. The idea is that if the criminal KNOWS the police will be armed, he comes armed as a mater of course. As the police generally aren't armed the criminals aren't. If they are or it is suspected they are, they use armed response. Simple really.

Answer 3

Well of course they already do, they are specially trained marksmen. The guns are issued to them should an occasion arise that they may be needed. As far as I know, they don`t take them home;they have to be returned when the `crisis` is over. I have an elderly uncle who used to be a Scotland Yard officer, as a child I can recall him telling us that in those days, the police refused to carry guns. The general opinion was that if the police carried them, so would criminals.Now it seems that the police carry them because the criminals do.I hope I do not live to see the day that our police are issued a gun as part of their uniform, like a helmet or a pair of shoes. If that ever happens, life will have become so cheap,that living would be a chore.

Answer 4

Just look at the difference between crime here and crime in - f'rinstance - the US. There gun crime and gun-related deaths are a common place daily occurrence. Barely makes the papers unless it is a sniper on a bridge or a loony shooting up a school. Yet this has nothing to do with them owning lots of guns. Oh no. No way, José. It is just a bunch of criminals at work, and the police need guns to protect themselves.

As we British slowly, and irreparably it seems, bury ourselves politically up GW's @rse, then we too will fall for that specious argument, and the daily list of gun-crimes will spiral out of control.

British police do not regularly carry guns coz we don't have an open market for guns here, or open season on shooting people either.

Answer 5

They were asked if they wanted to carry guns..not too long ago and most Police Officer's said No.. If they carry guns, then more guns will be carried by the offender's. The homicide rate in Britain is 1 in 100,000 in Canada 2 in 100,000 USA....10 in 100,000 go figure!

Answer 6

The police are carrying guns more and more these days, [to protect us from terrorists?] The problem is, as its been widely publicised, innocent people have been killed. We don"t want to go the way of the US where they shoot first, and, if they can be bothered, ask questions later. I feel the balance is about right. Unarmed Police on patrol with the ability to "call up" highly trained? armed officers.

Answer 7

When I went to London after the bombings last year the police were carrying Sig Sauer pistols and MP5 submachine guns. Since the GWOT alot of non-armed policemen are now carrying sidearms at least.

Answer 8

Simple... we are trying to keep gun crime to a minimum.

What happens if your adversary has a gun? you go out and get a bigger one!

If the police were to carry small arms all the time, then criminlas would be carrying Uzi's and AK47's maybe rocket launchers.

BUT don't think it will last the UK is slowly coming to terms with gun crime. We will eventually be like the rest of the world...in HELL!

Answer 9

More and more they do.

I was in London on St. Patrick's Day of last year, and the police were carrying automatic weapons (true automatics, not what the media call automatic).

The general attitude towards weapons in Britain has not had the crime reducing effect some think, more like the Sullivan Law in New York, it has increased the number of victims.

Answer 10

My cousin is a cop in N. Ireland.She told me a long time ago that they werent allowed to carry guns in N.Ireland,which kinda shocked me cuz of all the crap thats been goin down with the I.R.A. I think it has to do with coruption if I remember right.The ones who carry the guns are some special group simular to the A.T.F or FBI.But that was before the I.R.A dissolved,so it may be different.It might be different in other parts of the U.K too.If im wrong.sum one post the rite answer pleez.

Answer 11

the general view is that if the police carry guns as standard more criminals will too, it may one day need to happen most officers dont want to carry guns.