It used to be that way. Then the gangs took over and they disarmed the citizens so only the gangs have guns. The cops don’t. They have a special unit that can use guns but only if they’re called out and have to go to an armory to get them. By the time the show up, it’s all over. Stupid Brits.
1—As stupid as the gun laws have been, the British publicv has never owned guns en masse. The highest amount of legal guns was 1.6m in 1996, and most gunowners like myself owned more than one.
2—All major UK police forces have firearms units on constant standby, so your assertion re armoury=too late is a nonsense.