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When did we give the police permission to patrol our communities while armed?

A concerned observer | 12.08.2014 19:58 | Policing | Repression | Liverpool | World

In a little-noticed move, a small number of police officers are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in parts of the mainland UK. How did this come about, and does it alter the relationship between the constabulary and the public?



In a little-noticed move, a small number of police officers are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in parts of the mainland UK. How did this come about, and does it alter the relationship between the constabulary and the public?

Saturday night in Inverness. Outside a McDonald's restaurant, a scuffle between two men breaks out. Three police officers arrive to intervene. So far, so mundane.

Except that strapped around the hips of each of the policemen approaching the brawl is a holstered Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol.

It's a sight that once would have been unthinkable. In this corner of the Scottish Highlands - an area with one of the lowest crime rates in the UK - the officers showing up to a relatively workaday disturbance are armed.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28656324


Critics of armed police reject assurances from MacAskill

ROBBIE DINWOODIE and david ross
Wednesday 6 August 2014

CRITICS of a decision to allow police with guns onto the streets have dismissed assurances by Kenny MacAskill that the number of armed officers on routine patrol will not be allowed to increase.
KENNY MacASKILL: Said only 275 officers were routinely armed.

Opposition MSPs and MPs said they were disappointed after the Justice Secretary told Holyrood that Police Scotland chief constable Sir Stephen House had reassured him a maximum of only 275 officers were deployed at any time.

He said the current figure ­represented less than 1.6 per cent of Scotland's 17,000 officers, and that if it ever routinely rose above 2% the force would have to inform both the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the Government.

The controversy erupted after officers were seen on patrol with guns in the Highlands...
Critics of armed police reject assurances from MacAskill

 http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wider-political-news/critics-of-armed-police-reject-assurances-from-macaskill.24963075?


CRITICS of a decision to allow police with guns onto the streets have dismissed assurances by Kenny MacAskill that the number of armed officers on routine patrol will not be allowed to increase.
KENNY MacASKILL: Said only 275 officers were routinely armed.

Opposition MSPs and MPs said they were disappointed after the Justice Secretary told Holyrood that Police Scotland chief constable Sir Stephen House had reassured him a maximum of only 275 officers were deployed at any time.

He said the current figure ­represented less than 1.6 per cent of Scotland's 17,000 officers, and that if it ever routinely rose above 2% the force would have to inform both the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and the Government.

The controversy erupted after officers were seen on patrol with guns in the Highlands

 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/human-rights-expert-calls-probe-3904577


This certainly has similarities to how the British state have introduced armed force on to members of their population before, in the North of Ireland for those who haven't quite joined the dots yet...

A concerned observer

Comments

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The Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol for beginners

13.08.2014 17:42

The Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as a Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of polymer-framed, short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. It entered Austrian military and police service by 1982.

Despite initial resistance from the market to accept a "plastic gun" due to durability and reliability concerns, and fears that the pistol would be "invisible" to metal detectors in airports, Glock pistols have become the company's most profitable line of products, commanding 65% of the market share of handguns for United States law enforcement agencies as well as supplying numerous national armed forces and security agencies worldwide. Glocks are also popular firearms amongst civilians for recreational/competition shooting, home/self defense and concealed/open carry.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_pistol


Cop Out


Secret Agents Abusing Uniformed Police

14.08.2014 15:56

You can see here how the sandpaper society that betrayed you to is ripping up the remainder of the former British Empire. Its institutions are turning against each other as in this example of phoney citizen journalism pretending to be inspired by international standards. But what in fact is going on is a plot to change the language about police violence. It is not police bullets that kill people, it is police that kill people. It is an imminent threat against people that deceptive body language as in this example is being employed, because according to official statements police bullets only want to do what they can. If you encounter a cop trimmed like that ask it which gun violence has occurred. There was no recent gun violence in this area? So why do you then display the signs of it? Why do you allow yourself to be manipulated by the same people that are wrecking your currencys?

E. S. On Meth
- Homepage: https://indymedia.org.uk/en/2013/12/514114.html


Not only armed, but unidentifiable

15.08.2014 19:02

None of these gunmen appears to be wearing shoulder numbers (except, maybe, the one in the middle)

see


shoulder numbers

03.10.2014 13:18

they are wearing numbers, the tabs have droped to the front, other pics of the event show it clearly.
Obviously you have a fixation with such things, but don't worry a minor detail like that wont stop your imagination will it.

anon by right