Re: Riots
 

Sadly our police and the US police are too trigger happy. If they did more to contain situations and had fewer lethal outcomes we would save a lot of money on enquiries to find out if they acted appropriately. No-one wants dead policemen but families don't want dead family members simply because the police were too keen to use weapons. The 4 C mantra - Contain - Communicate - Co-operate - Control usually works most of the time. Police also need to record incidents like these on video and on high definition photographs so that the public and public enquiries can see what the police saw and heard and make a fully informed judgement.Lack of transparency tends to lead to public suspicion.

Re: Riots
 

How many shots were fired by the UK Police last year?

I think you'll find the answer means trigger happy is one of the least apt ways to describe the UK Police.

Re: Riots
 

Maybe we should ask "In how many situations were weapons used where their usage was totally unnecessary?"

Weapons are supposed to be the last option not the first.

When mentally ill people, deaf people or drunken people are killed because they do not respond to police commands you have to ask what other methods did they try before the guns came out.

I suspect that the Police were looking for the quickest solution. Holding a mobile phone might carry a death sentence for suspects in such circumstances.

Re: Riots
 

As might travelling in the back of a taxi whilst in possession of a lethal firearm - which, let us not forget, is what happened here.

Re: Riots
 

I'll actually answer that. In my opinion the answer, for firearms, in the UK is none.

In other words your argument is complete rubbish, you cannot back it up and try to divert the question away.

---------- Post added at 10:44 ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 ----------

*Community leader voice*

Noooooo, he had a box of puppies in the back he was just about to distribute to local orphans before the big bad Met Feds executed him on the street.

Re: Riots
 

You do realise that the number of officers carrying firearms is actually quite limited? AFAIK even baton use has quite strict rules governing it.

Re: Riots
 

You can't compare the UK vs USA police with firearms.
the UK are virtually zero when it comes to shooting anything that moves compared to the panicky pyscho cops in the US.

Re: Riots
 

I think you will find, as supported by these three links, that your presumptions regarding UK police are unfounded.

http://www.channel4.com/news/police-...ppy-fact-check

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democ...8/armed-police

http://www.inquest.org.uk/statistics...lice-shootings

Re: Riots
 

Remember some of what you read on the internet is true but not all of what you read on the internet is true.You as the reader must exercise some sort of filter to discern truth or lie,fact or hyperbole.

Re: Riots
 

True, but I knew someone who was the son of a member of the Police's Firearms squad. The guns they used were kept in a locked compartment of the car and they could not even get them out (let alone fire them) without an expressed order from the most senior Police officer available.

Re: Riots
 

Now most forces have ARV crews armed with side arm and taser at all times. Other weapons are secured until needed, that way the officers can self authorise if needed.

This hasn't caused a huge spike in the number of Police shootings despite what some people would have you believe.

Re: Riots
 

Yeah, I did last speak to this guy several years ago, so I figured things might have changed. Can't remember what Firearm his dad used, but it was considerably bigger than a sidearm.

Re: Riots
 

Then again in the USA the criminals are much more likely to have guns themselves. A more valid comparison would be countries where the Police carry firearms but the criminals less so than in the US., eg Australia.

Re: Riots
 

Not even with the taser

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...omplaints.html

Re: Riots in Tottenham
 

:nworthy::clap: