cuchulainn
April 15, 2003, 07:16 PM
from icBirmingham
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/page.cfm?objectid=12849283&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=Officers%20have%20say%20on%20arming%20policeOfficers have say on arming police
Apr 15 2003
By John Revill, Birmingham Post
Thousands of police officers across the Midlands are being asked if they want to be routinely equipped with guns.
One-fifth of all officers across the country are being polled by the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file members, on safety issues as well as the question of arming.
The results will be presented at the national Police Federation conference in Blackpool next month.
Questions raised include how many times have officers thought their lives in danger, how many times they have been threatened with a knife or gun over the last two years and if they would be prepared to carry a firearm at all times on duty, or whether they would resign over the issue.
Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said: "I would be against the routine arming of police officers, I think it would be a retrograde step.
"We police by consent in Britain and that would be seriously undermined by arming officers.
"You only have to look at countries where there is routine arming of officers and you see gun crime is far higher than here.
"Although the number of firearms offences is increasing, you only have to look at Latin America and the US to see it doesn't solve the problem."
Mr Tonks said he preferred to see an increase in the number of specialist armed response units.
"I would like to see the Government put more resources into ports and airports to stop the weapons coming into Britain in the first place," he added.
Mark Judson, chairman of the Staffordshire Police Federation, said he wanted to see officers armed only as a last resort.
He said: "Personally I would not want to see officers routinely armed and I think most other officers would agree. I don't think we have got to the situation yet where there is a need and there are certainly robust enough contingencies in place to deal with firearms incidents.
"In the fullness of time, if gun crime continues to increase, then this is an issue which could be looked at again in the future."
Mr Judson said more efforts should be focused on reducing the number of weapons in circulation.
"The flow of weapons into the country from the Balkans and the former Eastern bloc companies needs to be stemmed," he added.
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2003
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/page.cfm?objectid=12849283&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=Officers%20have%20say%20on%20arming%20policeOfficers have say on arming police
Apr 15 2003
By John Revill, Birmingham Post
Thousands of police officers across the Midlands are being asked if they want to be routinely equipped with guns.
One-fifth of all officers across the country are being polled by the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file members, on safety issues as well as the question of arming.
The results will be presented at the national Police Federation conference in Blackpool next month.
Questions raised include how many times have officers thought their lives in danger, how many times they have been threatened with a knife or gun over the last two years and if they would be prepared to carry a firearm at all times on duty, or whether they would resign over the issue.
Paul Tonks, chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said: "I would be against the routine arming of police officers, I think it would be a retrograde step.
"We police by consent in Britain and that would be seriously undermined by arming officers.
"You only have to look at countries where there is routine arming of officers and you see gun crime is far higher than here.
"Although the number of firearms offences is increasing, you only have to look at Latin America and the US to see it doesn't solve the problem."
Mr Tonks said he preferred to see an increase in the number of specialist armed response units.
"I would like to see the Government put more resources into ports and airports to stop the weapons coming into Britain in the first place," he added.
Mark Judson, chairman of the Staffordshire Police Federation, said he wanted to see officers armed only as a last resort.
He said: "Personally I would not want to see officers routinely armed and I think most other officers would agree. I don't think we have got to the situation yet where there is a need and there are certainly robust enough contingencies in place to deal with firearms incidents.
"In the fullness of time, if gun crime continues to increase, then this is an issue which could be looked at again in the future."
Mr Judson said more efforts should be focused on reducing the number of weapons in circulation.
"The flow of weapons into the country from the Balkans and the former Eastern bloc companies needs to be stemmed," he added.
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2003