I've voted no - only because I wouldn't trust some of the officers I know with a water pistol!

The training implications are immense! Initial training then constant refresher courses. Plus having the IPCC round your neck if you were ever to use the bloody thing.

Having said all that, I suspect that the number of armed officers will dramatically increase in the next few years, but I'm not sure that every one of us will get a shooter!

 

I've been an AFO now for 8 years.

I've voted no.  Like fivejays, I'd hate to see some of my colleages armed.

I'd hate to see the stakes raised which will happen.

I also believe the number of police officers and MOP killed will rise dramatically.

I don't think tradition has anything to do with the argument, it depends on how our country via our elected peers want the public face of policing to be.

If we acquire more paramilitaria, we lose the ability to police at the lower level, which the public, me included, consider to be very important.

I believe that particular local inner city issues have to be resolved at local levels, but nationally, we must remain unarmed if we want to try to keep any kind of lid on the criminal use of firearms.

I've voted no. As a bobby i dread the day (if or when it comes) when a Glock is standard issue. I certainly would not say no to a Taser however.

If they give guns to us all, there will certainly be far more bobbies and MOP killed. have a look at http://www.odmp.org/

The number of Cops Killed by an accident with their own weapon is shocking.

I have voted no. Not everyone has the same skills. I admire the professionalism of our armed officers and I believe this would be diluted if everyone was given a gun.

I always preferred the option of having high quality armed officers to assist when necessary rather than having a gun myself.

Six minutes for an armed response is pretty good going. Given the size of our force, I don't think we have enough ARVs on routine patrol. For obvious reasons I'm not going to go into details, but there is definitely a shortage.

Some forces operate a system where an ARV responds, then tools up locally based AFOs if necessary. I think this could be a solution, as there is no doubt that we need a more resilient armed response option. I wouldn't want to see all of us carrying a gun though.

I have voted no too. I really respect armed officers for what they do but I would not want to find myself in the same situation as them. Plus the cost of training all officers would be quite immense.

Nor would I Barry.....just look what happens when you do!

I voted no.

If the Police are armed then that gives the Criminal more reason to be too.

I havent experienced our Armed officers yet but I am sure they all do a great job.

As an officer who is constantly armed with a Glock 17 I would say the following;

1. Being armed does not stop people attacking you!

2. Being armed does not stop Police doing their job!

3. You can have a normal conversation with people even though you are carrying a deadly WEAPON!

4. People are enquisitive as regards the firearm you are carrying!

5. You wil name your firearm!!!!!! Matilda - helps when talking to your partner in front of the kids!

6. Carrying a firearm does not men you are special!

7. The split second decision will be the hardest to make in your life

It is only part of the job, and will become insignificant, however there are people out to hurt Police and they don't worry about the cost 

As a MOP I´ve voted no. The reason for this is a personal belief and experiences made living in Germany.

My personal belief is that any Police Officer who is nervous about carrying a sidearm or who catagorically does not want to use a sidearm is a possible liability to themselves, their colleagues and the general public. This is NOT meant in a negative or derogatory sense at all, but rather refers to the split second decision on whether to squeeze the trigger or not. It is an awesome decision and carries an awsome amount of responsibility that should not be forced on Police Officers. If a Police Officer decides that he/she is able to make that kind of decision and live with the consequences afterwards then by all means volunteer to become an AFO/SFO.

My experience living in Germany, is that even though ALL Police Officers are armed, the first call that goes out whenever firearms are in use, or there is a danger of firearms being present, is to the german equivalent of the ARV´s / SFO´s. The system is good and each Police Force in Germany has a large number of ARV´s strategically placed throughout their Tactical Area of Responsibility and at least one SFO Team on permanent standby. Deployment to remote areas is also made easier due to the use of chopper support. If a further level of support is needed, they can also fall back on the GSG9 which is a paramilitary unit of the Federal Police, trained to the same standard as the SAS.

This system does work (bearing in mind that no system is perfect) and instead of arming all British Police Officers I think that the budget on all Forces should be increased to raise the number of ARV´s and SFO´s on a nationwide basis thus reducing response times, increasing the coverage and reassuring the copper on the beat, that armed backup is available.

On a closing note, I would like to thank ALL members of the Police for their professionalism and dedication to duty in such adverse conditions. IT IS APPRECIATED.