what weapons do british police use

what weapons do they have in their inventory?

Originally posted by bodrul
what weapons do they have in their inventory?

pretty much nothing except a whistle. seriously mostly they carry no weapons since they dont like them and that it is harmful to their image wen with the British public. but there are special teams that do carry weapons wen encountering an armed suspect.

Weapons doesn't just mean guns. British police carry CS gas in aerosol cans, extendable batons or Tonfa Nightsticks and....not much else. As deltaboy said they have special teams when armed suspects are present.

Most 'Bobbies' on the beat are currently undergoing specialist firearms training. But long gone are the days of the .38 Police Special.

Nowadays, especially here in sunny Gloucestershire, they have to fight to keep policemen and policewomen off the firearms courses. I cannot speak for the rest of the country, but here in Glos, firearms in use are:

Sidearm = Glock or SiG Sauer
MP = MP5 or MP10 - with 10, 20 & 30 rd mags - depending on situation.
Sniper and Shotgun - Not sure, as my mate Geordie won't tell me.

No heavier support weaps to mention, apart from the usual suspects like the stun grenades, gas grenade launchers (old M79) etc.

Belt order worn by 'Bobbies' supports CS spray, Asp and/or Nightsticks, 'cuffs', Bluetooth or Motorola Tac Radios systems and most should [but don't) wear stabproof vests.

Most armed 'Bobbies' in Glos are in the Armed Response Unit(s), but the Police do have their own firearm specialists - SO10/SO19 - who are paramilitary (armed) police.

Will keep you advised/updated as and when I can.

I thought it was only the bobbies that dont wear any firearm at all?!? Certainly some regular police officers dont carry their gun depending on the situation, but arent they at least issued one?

Originally posted by deltaboy

Originally posted by bodrul
what weapons do they have in their inventory?

pretty much nothing except a whistle. seriously mostly they carry no weapons since they dont like them and that it is harmful to their image wen with the British public. but there are special teams that do carry weapons wen encountering an armed suspect.

dear god, is that the reputation of the british police? All we have is whistles?! daaamnnn boy, we had tazers in police forces, just like you guys, and good ol whackin sticks remember, and yeah, ARU with guns.

in Glasgow the police have extendible batons and CS gas spray. They need a firearms licence for the CS gas.

Yeah Soapy, that's true - but in Glasgow you've got a hardrer criminal than down here in the 'soft' south - that's why your 'bobbies' have to have an FAC for their CS sprays! LOL

Thought this might be interesting:


wikipedia link

In a 1995 ballot amongst members of the Police Federation of England and Wales, over 75% of the vote was against routine arming.

Theres not any real demand for ''beat bobbies'' to be armed, in my opinion it would be a bad idea. Rapid response armed police is the best idea in current play, keep the image of ''guns'' as a last resort and not a everyday police tool.

[edit on 11-7-2005 by UK Wizard]

Originally posted by UK Wizard
Theres not any real demand for ''beat bobbies'' to be armed, in my opinion it would be a bad idea. Rapid response armed police is the best idea in current play, keep the image of ''guns'' as a last resort and not a everyday police tool.

[edit on 11-7-2005 by UK Wizard]

somthing like the SWAT in the U.S., it be like grand theft auto where the suspect is far more dangerous to handle and they need to call in the SWAT.

one of the main reason the police dont get armed is that the law requires that an officer is suspended from fire arms duty pending an investigation if he shoots someone. Arm the police and the people doing the investigating will be overloaded with workand there would be hardly any police on duty. that would make the police think twice about shooting you over that loaf of bread you stole out the corner shop.

what weapons do british police use?

Mostly charm and witty British idioyms to disarm lesser intellectual wankers.

British? Weapons? Since when?

Originally posted by SFRemmy
British? Weapons? Since when?

en.wikipedia.org...

In fact, officers on night patrols in some London divisions were frequently armed with Webley revolvers (and, after the Battle of Stepney, Webley semi-automatics) for over 50 years following the murder of two officers in 1884, though individual officers were able to choose whether to carry the weapons. The practice ended in July 1936, after which arms could be issued by a sergeant if there was a good reason, and if the officer had been trained.

it looks like they started using carryin weapons since the deaths in 1884, but they have a choice to carry or not but they started carrying weapons.

Why do police carry guns in America?

Some police have guns at airports and outside parliment buildings thats all.
No body sells guns in shops so we do not have to worry about this so much. The protection is getting better because the violence is getting worse.

[edit on 11-7-2005 by The time lord]

Why do police carry guns in America?

Because a police here would not last 5 minutes in a confrontation with an amred suspec or a grop of criminals without his gun or weapons on him.

Ever since the North Hollywood shootout police here not only carry their guns but they carry AR-15’s and Shoguns in their trunks with extra rounds of ammo if they need them. And our Founding Fathers though it was important enough that the people could carry guns so they made it the second amendment to the constitution.


[edit on 11-7-2005 by WestPoint23]

Do they have guns in Mexico both police and the public, most likely yes I believe for the same type of reasons, Im just guessing I do not know for sure.

Is it too late to ban all guns? Just wondered how Americans see this point of view. Its that Michael Moore thing just interested.

I think they have something that can make them invisible, ive not seen one for two weeks now.

Originally posted by Bulldog 52
I think they have something that can make them invisible, ive not seen one for two weeks now.

lol

yes i agree

To ban all gun ins the US for the public you would have to ratify the constitution which is not going to happen because the overwhelming majority of people in the US are pro guns. 2/3 of the senate and 2/3 of the house would have to vote for the ban and a majority of the 50 sates has to vote to approve the ratification. Now any congress man, president or senator would be committing political suicide if they vote for such a bill.