British police carrying guns?

[Nick Justice]

Found this article.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28656324

Some officers carry all the time. Most do not.

There may be big changes coming...

[Dee_Dub]

yep, looks like gun control is working out pretty good for them...

[Mitch]

Twenty years ago they routinely carried assault rifles around the terminals at Heathrow.

[The War Wagon]

Since the late 1970's, as I understand it!

[chuckdc]

The last time I had good info on the Metropolitan Police, about 10% of their force is armed with firearms. The ones who are, had an absolute minimum of 3 years on the force before they could even be considered. The ones who were armed typically had Glock 17 handguns and H&K MP-5s. The Bobbies stationed around the US Embassy were armed, as are some of the ones at the airports. You can also tell if one of their police cars is an armed unit by a round fluorescent-yellow decal on the car (basically about an 8" round dot).
Their regular patrol constables carry either the classic truncheon or the ASP telescoping baton (their choice, and they have a special pocket in their uniform trousers to keep them in). The class I attended there had a lecture at their academy in Hendon, and they displayed the entire array of equipment for their cops. One thing that stood out is that they were not equipped with chemical sprays (OC or CN) other than the grenades for riot control. Guess they'd rather just beat you soundly than spray you!

[Cannon-Arms]

Twenty years ago they routinely carried assault rifles around the terminals at Heathrow.

Even just a year ago, I saw police carrying MP5s around Heathrow. It felt odd to me, as in, I've never seen police at LAX carrying anything other than a side arm, not to mention a full auto sub gun.

Proud PAPA moment.

At the U.S. embassy with my kids. My daughter strikes up a conversation with an armed Bobbie team patrolling the Embassy, inquiring to there G-17 side arms, letting them know Daddy has that, then asking about their MP5s and asking if she could have one. Right in front of the team, I look up , shrug my shoulders and say, "It's her American side" then turn to her and say, "sure dear, daddy will get you a pistol when we get home" The Bobbies chuckled....good sports.

[essjay]

I was in London for a week in 2005 or 2006, and saw constables (policemen? officers? policemen-officers?) near the British Museum with MP5s out on the street.

[Cannon-Arms]

I was in London for a week in 2005 or 2006, and saw constables (policemen? officers? policemen-officers?) near the British Museum with MP5s out on the street.

PCs= Police Constables

[TrailerparkTrash]

I've never understood the thinking of the Brits and their police under the "Queen's court." Their police are forced to be "chumps" because they can't carry guns. At least not all of them.

[1CavScout]

I had a London cop ride along with me one night who was visiting the U.S. After contacting gang members of some of our other resident ****bags all night, he said he would not feel comfortable working without a gun in the area I worked. There is no way I would work as an LEO without a firearm.

[meaty-btz]

The last time I had good info on the Metropolitan Police, about 10% of their force is armed with firearms. The ones who are, had an absolute minimum of 3 years on the force before they could even be considered. The ones who were armed typically had Glock 17 handguns and H&K MP-5s. The Bobbies stationed around the US Embassy were armed, as are some of the ones at the airports. You can also tell if one of their police cars is an armed unit by a round fluorescent-yellow decal on the car (basically about an 8" round dot).
Their regular patrol constables carry either the classic truncheon or the ASP telescoping baton (their choice, and they have a special pocket in their uniform trousers to keep them in). The class I attended there had a lecture at their academy in Hendon, and they displayed the entire array of equipment for their cops. One thing that stood out is that they were not equipped with chemical sprays (OC or CN) other than the grenades for riot control. Guess they'd rather just beat you soundly than spray you!

The problems with OC or CN sprays are:
-they don't always work
-wind
-they douse the criminal then who has close and personal contact with said doused criminal? The arresting officer. Not fun. Not just a wash your hands moment but a strip, take a shower or a good hosing off, and a whole fresh clean uniform.. also sending the uniform to get laundered can be fun for the one doing the laundering. OC, the gift that keeps on giving.

[MXRider]

I am not a cop, but I can surely tell you I wouldn't want to do that job and not be armed.

[Capybara]

The PCs in London must be part of a Firearms Unit to carry firearms. They are required to have more time on the job and more training. I was in Kensignton two years ago and most of the PCs, male and female I saw walking around the area had MP5s.

[deckhandmike]

The problems with OC or CN sprays are:
-they don't always work
-wind
-they douse the criminal then who has close and personal contact with said doused criminal? The arresting officer. Not fun. Not just a wash your hands moment but a strip, take a shower or a good hosing off, and a whole fresh clean uniform.. also sending the uniform to get laundered can be fun for the one doing the laundering. OC, the gift that keeps on giving.

Sprays suck. I get sprayed at work often. It's like setting off a bug bomb. Everyone gets covered and it doesn't work well.

[chuckdc]

The problems with OC or CN sprays are:
-they don't always work
-wind
-they douse the criminal then who has close and personal contact with said doused criminal? The arresting officer. Not fun. Not just a wash your hands moment but a strip, take a shower or a good hosing off, and a whole fresh clean uniform.. also sending the uniform to get laundered can be fun for the one doing the laundering. OC, the gift that keeps on giving.

that's ok, but it's not the reason why they don't use them over there. We were told by their big cheese that was running the demo for us that "those are chemical weapons and are inhumane"