do you think the police used excessive force on the two bank robbers today?

Question

or do you think they were justified in taking down these criminals

Answer 1

Why bother trying to arrest such scum. The courts will only be lenient , they'd probably only have got 8-10 years for attempted armed robbery and would only have done half of that then been eligible for parole. This way no messing about, no stupid judges and no cost to the tax payer. Shoot the lot of them I say.

Answer 2

Well first of all we can only go on the scant details given by the media.

The offenders were armed with firearms. The likelihood is they were prepared to use them if necessary. Sentences for armed robberies are tough, which criminals are more than aware of. They do not want to be captured and sent to jail for many years, which often means if you corner one they may become desperate.

In any situation involving the police and the confrontation of persons with firearms, the initial response is to give an oral challenge. This is generally 'Armed police' followed by 'Put the weapon down', and if possible'If you do anything to endanger life we will shoot to stop you. Do you understand.'
The oral warning should be given unless to do so would unduly place any person at risk of death or serious harm, or it would be clearly inappropriate or pointless in the circumstances.

Therefore if any of the robbers responded by pointing weapons at people, be that the police or public, and the firearms officers had an honestly held belief that any person's life was in danger they would shoot TO STOP (not to kill).

It has been suggested (true or false) that one of the offenders was holding a member of the public closely at gunpoint. Again if it was feared that that person was in imminent danger the officers could shoot to stop. Due to central body mass not being available a head shot could be considered (consideration to closeness of hostage and accuracy of shot required).

The officers will have been well briefed and numerous tactical options discussed and available, possibly to include Taser, baton gun, passive attack dog etc. Certainly some of those options could be rules out staright away if the offenders were clearly brandishing firearms.

It would be mostly down to the reaction of the offenders at the time, which led to the appropriate officer response. Shooting someone is a last resort.

However I would rather have two dead offenders than one dead innocent bystander.

Answer 3

British Police Officers who routinely carry weapons as a part of their daily patrol have to pass some of the toughest entry requirements for armed police in the world. They operate in very difficult circumstances and with stringent rules of engagement. Therefore, if proper procedure was adhered to, and I haven't heard anything to suggest otherwise, the killings should be ruled lawful. However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission will have to carry out a routine inquiry first to ensure that everything the police did was by the book. Unfortunately, when you are confronted with armed criminals in a crowded area where the potential for innocent causalities runs high the police have to make quick decisions and cannot afford to deal with such people with kid gloves on. Some people abhor the very idea of arming Police Officers however there are no alternatives in a situation such as the one that occured today.

Answer 4

No

even if the police were waiting, they had to act and prevent the robbery.

A previous answer said they could have just shot and injured them, well anyone who gets shot, even in arm, leg etc could die from the trauma. You need to understand, if the police wound someone they could still shoot back, killing the security guards or the police officers attending,

this was not excessive force, The robbers went with the intent to use or scare using guns and they met their match this time... maybe if we had capital punishment for murderers etc brought back then it may prevent this type of crime and the police would not have to deal in this way.

Answer 5

No. The Flying Squad acted correctly. The bank robbers [ruthless criminals] were armed. At least one fully loaded hand gun was found at the scene, possibly dropped by one of the villains.

The police have a duty to enforce the law and maintain good order. Their job is to protect life, limb and property. They did exactly that.

For once, the fuzz did an excellent job. Ten out of ten.

Answer 6

I've been accused of using excessive force myself by members of the public who have caught the aftermath of an arrest/incident. With this is mind, I wouldn't really like to comment on the level of force used without knowing the full facts of the incident. Not that I'm suggesting that's what you are doing of course.

At the end of the day, its down to the relevant officers to justify their actions.

Answer 7

I can't say. Unlike the rest of you, I wasn't there and I don't really know what happened.

But in general, if these men were armed and a danger to those around, it was entirely proper to shoot them, dead if necessary, if proper warnings were given.

But the motivation must always be protection of the police officers and the public, not vigilanteism.

It is also entirely proper, that since two men are dead, a full investigation is carried out, hopefully leading to the complete exoneration of the officers involved, if the incident was as described on the news.

Mathilda: Trials are such a nuisance in our legal system, aren't they? I don't know why we bother wth them, they're all guilty anyway. (NB this is irony)

Answer 8

They were ARMED. What do you think the officers should have done? Let themselves and other innocent be shot? No, totally justified. To all of you that answered yes, what if you were in that bank today?

Answer 9

I have to ask the same question of you. I cannot imagine any right minded person being sympathetic to the would be robbers, not even their Parents.
Good job we have the resources to take them down and make a proper job of it.

Answer 10

Nope and this wasn't excessive either:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8yoUaH6wGLs

Any clarification of why the police treat bank robbers harshly can be seen below.