[Derek]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Do you think handling a fire arm is just a case of training somebody how to pull the trigger?

No. They need to aim first

Originally Posted by Pierre

I doubt we could afford the continuous training and assessment required to have all of our officers armed, or do you suggest something like a 3 day training course with a refresher every year?

Again, with the exception of a handful of countries the UK is one of the very few not to have an armed Police force or at least easy access to firearms. All those forces manage it so why couldn't the UK?

Currently a 3 week course can take someone who has never handled a gun before into being proficient with pistol, carbine, taser and baton gun. A 3 or 4 day course focusing on defensive tactics and safe handling and use would be achievable. A day or half day refresher every six months wouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility either.

Originally Posted by Pierre

I have to question the motives of the beat officer that requests the use of a weapon, probably been watching too many american cop shows.

My motives are wanting to go home to my family in one piece.

Originally Posted by Pierre

I'd really love to know how many times the police, in the UK, actually do come up against "axe wielding thugs"

Well with a range of approx 35ft unless the knife and axe wielding thugs are the last of the mohicans you should be able to stop them.

Actually more like 20 feet. And axe wielding thugs, in my experience so far twice, plus numerous knifes and swords, a home made morning star, stun gun and numerous hammers, baseball bats and other goodies.

Plus if a barb misses, he is wearing heavy clothing or for some other reason your kind of stuffed. If the first shot from a glock misses you have another 16 to use.

Originally Posted by Chris

Note, however, that the BBC also observes this afternoon that the idea of routine arming enjoys really rather low levels of support amongst the police themselves, comments from serving officers in this thread notwithstanding.

Rather low amongst the officers at a rank where they still own and wear a tunic... At the sharp end it's a little higher. And the last Fed survey didn't exist in Scotchland but the stories I'm hearing from down south would seem to suggest the polling wasnt exactly exhaustive when it came to front line officers and was more concentrated on CID and office dwellers.

Originally Posted by Sirius

To be honest i bet the human rights of the victims will not be even considered whilst his will be..

Yep. I'm sure his Xbox, gym, library and bed are all being warmed up for him at HMP Hilton now where he'll be treated like royalty, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an outburst of some sort at his court appearance today.