Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Britain’s Response To Terror Threat: Keep 90 Percent Of Police Officers Unarmed
dailycaller.com ^ | 3/24/2017 | Jacob Bojesson

Posted on 03/25/2017 11:23:22 AM PDT by rktman

The officer stabbed in Wednesday’s terror attack in London was unarmed, like more than 90 percent of the British police force.

Ketih Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death while guarding the entrance to the British Houses of Parliament unarmed. Just 2,800 out of London’s 31,075 police officers are armed, which the police force considers a safety measure.

A cornerstone principle of the Metropolitan Police in London is that guns send the wrong message to communities by provoking crime rather than preventing it. Most officers are only equipped with batons, handcuffs, a mace and in some cases, stun-guns. A small number of specially-trained officers are the only ones carrying guns on patrol. These include counterterrorism police and some officers in high-risk areas like the Parliament.

While countries such as Germany, France and Belgium have put more armed officers on the streets in response to a wave of terror attacks around the continent, the United Kingdom has maintained its “policing by consent” approach to security. The Metropolitan Police increased the number of armed officers by 600 after the truck attack in Nice last July, but the total number is still a mere 9 percent of the entire force.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...


TOPICS: United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: counterterrorism; jihadineurope; leo; nogunsfewguns
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last
Well heck yeah. Someone might get their eye put out or something.
1 posted on 03/25/2017 11:23:23 AM PDT by rktman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rktman
the United Kingdom has maintained its “policing by consent” approach to security

And what happens when the majority of Londonstan revokes its consent?

2 posted on 03/25/2017 11:34:34 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity - Pres. Eisenhower)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

“Well heck yeah. Someone might get their eye put out or something.”

Or even worse, get their feelings hurt.


3 posted on 03/25/2017 11:36:57 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Huskrrrr

If they fervently believe in this, why are there specially trained officers in high risk areas? Certain people more important than others to protect?


4 posted on 03/25/2017 11:40:50 AM PDT by StevieRay20
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: rktman

And take a red marker and draw a red dotted line around your neck.


5 posted on 03/25/2017 11:45:52 AM PDT by TigersEye (We all have a stake in MAGA! We all need to contribute our efforts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

“In the rest of the United Kingdom, the majority of police officers do not carry firearms; that duty is instead carried out by specially-trained firearms officers. This originates from the formation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the 19th century, when police were not armed, partly to counter public fears and objections over armed enforcers as this had been previously seen due to the British Army maintaining order when needed.”


6 posted on 03/25/2017 11:46:05 AM PDT by Trump20162020
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

FOOLS!!!


7 posted on 03/25/2017 11:46:09 AM PDT by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

It’s amazing that they can even recruit anyone to be a police officer unarmed.


8 posted on 03/25/2017 11:53:39 AM PDT by Rusty0604
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

The Brits have a small Army and most of the police are unarmed, seems the British Muslims could at least temporarily take by force the city of London and all government buildings?


9 posted on 03/25/2017 11:56:08 AM PDT by pleasenotcalifornia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

These lib/commies just don’t quit. In Communist Brookline, where I live, there was a woman with a rainbow decal asking me to sign a petition making Massachusetts a sanctuary state. I replied, “are you not aware of what happened in London?” She left me without comment. Instead of admitting their gross error, they double down on it.


10 posted on 03/25/2017 11:57:17 AM PDT by Stepan12 (go)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: StevieRay20

If they fervently believe in this, why are there specially trained officers* in special/certain high risk areas?

Certain/special people are more important than others to protect!

*How many of these specially trained officers are retired or active duty SAS?

https://www.google.com/search?q=retired+SAS+soldiers+become+armed+UK+cops&rlz=1CAACAO_enUS642US643&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=678&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT2tGVqvLSAhVLzWMKHe8XCMUQsAQIPw


11 posted on 03/25/2017 11:57:24 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Remember during Trump Tower Spydgate, there were No American fingerprints; just Obama's...!!!!:))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: rktman
British police:


12 posted on 03/25/2017 12:13:44 PM PDT by Trump20162020
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pleasenotcalifornia

Can the British at least do some vetting? That is more to the root of the problem. No amount of armed citizens can really stop covert bombings and suicide bombings.


13 posted on 03/25/2017 12:17:40 PM PDT by Morpheus2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Trump20162020

Is this for real????


14 posted on 03/25/2017 12:41:31 PM PDT by therut
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: StevieRay20

The British police developed in a very different environment than US policing. They take it as an article of faith (and historically it has worked) that most policing does not require firearms. Armed police are on call if a situation turns violent. (Much like SWAT backs up US police).

The issue is that in certain areas, crime is no longer the greatest problem. Instead, it is the threat of either armed attack on a high profile target or violent unarmed assaults by religious fanatics.

The Brits successfully coped with IRA terrorists, and still feel that they can handle the current threat with the same tactics. I hope they are correct, but I doubt it.


15 posted on 03/25/2017 12:43:10 PM PDT by drop 50 and fire for effect ("Work relentlessly, accomplish much, remain in the background, and be more than you seem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Halt! Or I’ll yell, Halt! again!


16 posted on 03/25/2017 12:43:35 PM PDT by raccoonradio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

How does an unarmed man guard Parliament? Poorly I suppose.


17 posted on 03/25/2017 12:48:48 PM PDT by Dave911
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: drop 50 and fire for effect
The British police developed in a very different environment than US policing. They take it as an article of faith (and historically it has worked) that most policing does not require firearms

True, and it's impossible to overestimate the weight of history behind this. The culture is very deep-rooted in the Police, and anonymous polling of rank-and-file officers always shows a large majority against routine arming. That majority gets steadily smaller, however...

And don't forget how very few British police die as a result of violent crime - still only 26 since the year 2000.

18 posted on 03/25/2017 1:25:16 PM PDT by Winniesboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rktman

One word: insanity.


19 posted on 03/25/2017 1:56:39 PM PDT by ataDude (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Trump20162020

Big Old Can of Grizzly spray instead of the tiny 1 and a half ounce shake em up bottle. At least a friggin’ TAZER. Probably cruel and unusual though.


20 posted on 03/25/2017 2:17:14 PM PDT by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson