[wcbtinman]

"It's time that the Royal Navy put armed guards..."

Then they would have to give them guns! With real bullets! Oooh the horror!

[goldwater was right]

I think it's just a difference of style and rules between US and UK Navies. A friend of mine was in Hong Kong for R&R during VN War and noticed the Brits didn't have rat guards on their ship's lines. He asked their gurad why they didn't and the Brit said, "Rats aren't allowed on board." Harrumph!