Did you take that photograph yourself? You were lucky not to have been “spoken to”!
Their weapons definitely would have been loaded. Ordinarily, British cops are not armed but it wouldn’t surprise me if 5-20% of those out on patrol at any one moment in London are now armed for “special purposes”. It’s a sign of the wonderful times we live in!
Unfortunately, British police forces have been totally politicised - I know from personal experience that they do not tolerate any resistance from the native peoples, to the drip-drip islamification of Britain.
Ironic considering the events of today.
No, not my shot. I pulled it off the interwebs. However, taking a shot like that from a distance would be easy with a zoom lens. I saw alot of cops out on the London streets armed just like those in the image. They were quite visible as a show of force.