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Being a Police Officer in the Uk

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Lord Shagg-Pyle:

--- Quote from: "Niel" ---Hummm,

was it the flying squad or the local KC's that slotted those 2 in ChandlersFord today?

Niel.
--- End quote ---


Very interesting that! We've been talking about that today.  :wink:

Just seen the news. Looks like a Squad job.

Boggert:
That is just so true!

Made me smile!

Lord Shagg-Pyle:

--- Quote from: "Eeyore" ---Oh lordy, it's going to be 'cat/pigeon interface scenario'

Oookay, my view is that we give the police guns all the time. Not because of fear of crime, but because everytime we let 'em have guns at the moment they seem to get a little bit excitable and 'accidents' happen. Yeah, okay, it's a gross generalisation, but bear with me a mo.

'Accidents' can include a guy carrying a chair leg in a carrier-bag getting shot. Or an electrician getting gunned down, point black, on the tube. Niether of these guys had commited a capital offense, yet by their misunderstanding of the situation they both end up dead. And that's not right.  Miscomprehension isn't a crime.

So, in some respects, yes, the inncoent do have something to fear. If I get wrongfully arrested, at the moment I walk away with a sound apology and a wad of cash. If I get wrongly jobbed, then I walk nowhere. An apology ain't a lot of use to me when I'm six foot down.

If we give more of our serving officers guns - is the sense of responsibility going to improve, or will I get jobbed one day for mishearing a shouted command?*

I don't think it's wrong that anyone should avoid prosecution for actions leading to the loss of life. Whether they're found guily afterwards, well, thats a different question.

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

*FWIW and being serious for a mo, after a settling-in period I think the novelty of having a firearm will wear off and our boys in blue will be stable with the additional responsibilty. The question then comes if whether having a gun will make them more of a target? As long as I get a sensible answer to the responsibility question, I think I'm cool with the concept.  :wink:
--- End quote ---



In all seriousness, I personally think it would be unlikely for every officer to be armed full time, purely on the logistics side of things. The cost of equipping everybody with weapons and armour and also the cost of training, refresher courses and setting up of ranges would be prohibitive.
The other thing would be mentally capable of carrying a gun? I can think of at least three occasions in my 16 years  where I would have been more than justified in pulling the trigger, but if I would have been able to is another matter.
In relation to the two incidents mentioned above. Both were tragic accidents, agreed, but what has to be bourne in mind is that the officers reacted after having received a briefing before hand.
If the briefing is formed round information that the subject is carrying a weapon, then it surely has to be accepted by all there that he is carrying a weapon.
This is why there are more trials being carried out in relation to other methods such as Tazer.
The other question would then be would a Tazer be the right weapon to stop a suicide attacker, with a electrically operated device?

It is a very emotive subject and constanly looked at with hindsight.
 
There will now be reports in the Press about the shooting in Hampshire, and it won't all be good. Excessive force, gung ho cops etc etc. This is the same Press that two weeks ago were on about arming the Police full time.
No mention of the poor guys who were doing their job, that they are paid
to do, as they now get suspended and investigated.
Again, its tragic that two people have died, but if they go out with the intention of carrying firearms, imatation or otherwise to commit crime, then no sympathy.

Boggert:
I have always said I would not want to carry a gun at work... no way

however a Taser Is a different story, just as affective and with out so much chance of killing some one.

att:
Looks like they did not mess around in Chandlers Ford 8)

I spent a lot of time with the US Police in the 90`s.....Very interesting indeed...Not to mention a tad racist in the Southern States. :(

I was made an Honourary Police Officer and still have the proclamation to this day :oops:  8)

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