Time for a Rethink

The deaths yesterday of two unarmed British police officers in Greater Manchester has rekindled the debate over the arming of our police. British policing policy does not permit the routine arming of police and in such cases where firearms are required, then specially trained officers are called upon to assist. There will be debate in the coming weeks as to the events surrounding yesterday's tragedy, and now is certainly not the time to be doing this. Our thoughts and prayers should go to the family, friends, relatives and colleagues who will be suffering at this time.

I do think we have all had a stark reminder of how policing carries with it an enormous risk and to enter a situation where there are so many unknowns can leave police unprepared and ill equipped. 

The days of the friendly village 'bobby' have gone and we now, sadly, live in a very different age. Some would argue that the age we live in is more violent. The statistics certainly show that we do and one only has to look at the cases of knife crime and violent assault, especially amongst the young.

I do feel that serious thought needs to be given to policing and the ability of officers to tackle the threats we now see on our streets. This does mean looking again at arming police - not necessarily with deadly firearms, but perhaps with some type of stun gun or Taser. The technology is there, and has been for some time. 

For a long time, we have been proud in this country of our policy not to arm our police officers. But times have changed. Violent crime is increasing and it could be argued, in some parts of the country, that it is verging on being out of control. We only have to look at last year's riots and the ineffectual policing that allowed for so much damage and wilful destruction to occur. It really is time for a rethink and to face some difficult truths.