[Kizzy]

The Metropolitan police commissioner wants to increase the number of armed officers in London in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he expected to have to lose 5,000 of the capital’s 32,000 officers to cope with cuts likely to total £800m over four years after the spending review this month.

But he tried to reassure Londoners that the number of firearms officers was being reviewed as a result of the attacks in the French capital, in which 129 people were killed. He said the Metropolitan police was proud to be a mostly unarmed force, but the Paris attacks showed the need for change.

Are the police moving from a visual unarmed deterrent to squads of armed militia? I don't like what Policing could become

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...ard-hogan-howe

[bots]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

The Metropolitan police commissioner wants to increase the number of armed officers in London in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he expected to have to lose 5,000 of the capital’s 32,000 officers to cope with cuts likely to total £800m over four years after the spending review this month.

But he tried to reassure Londoners that the number of firearms officers was being reviewed as a result of the attacks in the French capital, in which 129 people were killed. He said the Metropolitan police was proud to be a mostly unarmed force, but the Paris attacks showed the need for change.

Are the police moving from a visual unarmed deterrent to squads of armed militia? I don't like what Policing could become

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...ard-hogan-howe

I don't want police armed by default, but they were just after the tube explosions and they need to be able to react quickly if a threat appears, so I would live with it on a short term basis