as they are held by armed police
Yeah. As if there should be any other type of police.
Noteworthy that the distinction is made by UK media.
Yeah. As if there should be any other type of police.
Well, in the U.K. there are many unarmed police in that they don't carry guns. Often, all you see on the cop on the beat is what I remember being called a "billy stick".
I understand that more and more bobbies are being armed, though. Apparently, not that many, that's why newspaper reports refer to "armed police."