In the wake of the tragic deaths of two police officers in Greater Manchester this week, there are calls to routinely arm all of our police officers.
It would be wrong for me to speculate on the circumstances surrounding these latest murders, but I’m sure the emerging facts will reveal as to whether or not there may have been a different outcome had the two female officers been armed.
A 2006 survey of 47,328 Police Federation members found 82% did not want officers to be routinely armed on duty, despite almost half saying their lives had been "in serious jeopardy" during the previous three years.
It is a position shared by the Police Superintendents' Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
The British public are not nearly so unanimous.
An ICM poll in April 2004 found 47% supported arming all police, compared with 48% against.
RIP PC Nicola Hughes, and PC Fiona Bone. :'( :'(
