British police officers asked if they want to carry guns in wake of terror attacks
Britain could move closer towards having fully armed police as officers from the country's biggest force are today asked if they want to carry a gun.
The Metropolitan Police Federation will be asking its members whether they would be willing to carry a gun or Taser in the wake of a spate of terror attacks in Europe.
They will also be asked if the prospect of being armed would put them off their jobs. Nationally, the number of armed police is being boosted by 1,500 officers, the number that security officials believe Britain needs to help protect the public from the possibility of a terror attack.
However, police chiefs say they have struggled to recruit firearms officers, claiming that many fear they could spend years under investigation if they used their weapon in the line of duty.
Last year, Scotland Yard announced plans to increase the number of armed police in the capital by 600, bringing the total to almost 3,000. Now the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents 32,000 officers in London, is asking all of its members whether or not they would be happy to be armed on duty.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...rs-asked-want-carry-guns-wake-terror-attacks/
Britain could move closer towards having fully armed police as officers from the country's biggest force are today asked if they want to carry a gun.
The Metropolitan Police Federation will be asking its members whether they would be willing to carry a gun or Taser in the wake of a spate of terror attacks in Europe.
They will also be asked if the prospect of being armed would put them off their jobs. Nationally, the number of armed police is being boosted by 1,500 officers, the number that security officials believe Britain needs to help protect the public from the possibility of a terror attack.
However, police chiefs say they have struggled to recruit firearms officers, claiming that many fear they could spend years under investigation if they used their weapon in the line of duty.
Last year, Scotland Yard announced plans to increase the number of armed police in the capital by 600, bringing the total to almost 3,000. Now the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents 32,000 officers in London, is asking all of its members whether or not they would be happy to be armed on duty.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...rs-asked-want-carry-guns-wake-terror-attacks/
