Do traffic police carry firearms in their car?
Discussion
I hought it was common practice for a certain number of TrafPols to carry firearms. After all, they need performance vehicles to get to incidents quickly and have to be the best traiined drivers.
Given the problem we have with gun crime, I'd like to see a large increase in TrafPols carrying firearms. By that I do not mean just arm all TrafPols. I know my local force has 2 ARV's on the road at any one time, possibly 3 if a local MP (a previous Northern Ireland Secretary of State) if out of the area and, hence, doesn't require protection.
More trafpol, more armed, more unmarked.
Given the problem we have with gun crime, I'd like to see a large increase in TrafPols carrying firearms. By that I do not mean just arm all TrafPols. I know my local force has 2 ARV's on the road at any one time, possibly 3 if a local MP (a previous Northern Ireland Secretary of State) if out of the area and, hence, doesn't require protection.
More trafpol, more armed, more unmarked.
greenv8s said:
rospa said:
More trafpol, more armed, more unmarked.
Here, wait a minute, I don't want my tyres shot out just for 'drifting' over the limit.
Well you shouldn't have been drifting on public roads anyway.
Just drift under the limit, you'll be fine :ducks ands runs for cover - only joking mary:
rospa said:
More trafpol, more armed, more unmarked.
YES! More trafpol!
NO! More unmarked! (We need to see them if slowing us down in the issue!)
NO! Armed cops could be dangerous. (Thinks of certain Beeb programme about a Secret Policeman)
UK not so dangerous as it warrants it. And you may come back and spout "terrorist climate" - but gun law begets gun law. More armed cops - more danger to us all! (Though every Swiss citizen is trained soldier to protect us from EU - who are after our Gold!. By law we have to keep a gun in the house in Switzerland - and all the Swiss/dual Nat Swiss/UK Tom cats got conscripted!
) And you may say Switzerland is safe country: You go on your hols there to nice little resorts. You do not know seedy side of Zurich, Basel, Berne. They do have a more than few problems with gun toting drug gangsters! Live in UK. If I had wanted that kind of life - would have gone to US branch of company! Or gone to live in Zurich!
WildCat said:
More trafpol, more armed, more unmarked.
YES! More trafpol!
NO! More unmarked! (We need to see them if slowing us down in the issue!)
NO! Armed cops could be dangerous. (Thinks of certain Beeb programme about a Secret Policeman)
We need more unmarked TrafPol's to deal with the REAL problem on our roads i.e. drunk/drugged/careless/dangerous/uninsured/untaxed and unlicensed drivers.
Sure, they would catch some people speeding but - hopefully - if the speeding driver is adhering to the safe principles of Roadcraft, they might just might let them off. (I can live in hope!)
I don't want to see the police routinely armed but I do want to see more specialised firearms officers out on general patrol. Not every copper would want to carry a firearm, anyway.
Plotloss said:
Did I imagine it or do they say ARV on them or have some other sort of obvious designation?
Most Metpol cars have 3 identification letters on the rear wings......on some of them, the combination reads ARV. But this could be on a panda.
Also, Metcars that are driven by the most basic of drivers have a circular coloured sticker on them...mainly on Astras and the like.
OK Liebchen
Will take your point about unmarked v. the really dangerous brigade (But there are those other vans for the unlicenced muppets as well!)
Still think marked cop cars would be deterrent to them anyway - as optimistic little puss cat thinks these twazaks will think twice before getting into car after skinful etc if they know they stand good chance of being copped.
And re armed cops - if some are armed and some are not - some scrote may assume all are armed and start shoot-out! Happened once in Zurich - few years ago. Gendarme are our armed guys - but the doped up twazak assumed all the cops were armed and
Very dangerous situation!
(We are Appenzeller - nice pretty area. Home of best Swiss chees) That sort of thing does not happen there! Refined place with refined folk - like me! 
Will take your point about unmarked v. the really dangerous brigade (But there are those other vans for the unlicenced muppets as well!)
Still think marked cop cars would be deterrent to them anyway - as optimistic little puss cat thinks these twazaks will think twice before getting into car after skinful etc if they know they stand good chance of being copped.
And re armed cops - if some are armed and some are not - some scrote may assume all are armed and start shoot-out! Happened once in Zurich - few years ago. Gendarme are our armed guys - but the doped up twazak assumed all the cops were armed and
Very dangerous situation! (We are Appenzeller - nice pretty area. Home of best Swiss chees
) That sort of thing does not happen there! Refined place with refined folk - like me! Here's a point. Why has gun crime increased every time the gun control laws have been tightened? I was looking for the story of the Police marksman who shot himself in the foot during a match againest the local shooting club but found this. Seems speeding isn't the only activity affected by the "Knee jerk" brigade.
www.capital.demon.co.uk/LA/political/gunconuk.htm
www.capital.demon.co.uk/LA/political/gunconuk.htm
telecat said:
Wildcat, What would have happened if the kittens were or had served in HM Forces???
Er? do not understand question? Are you talking about guns? Soldiering - different because not touting guns willy nilly in civvy street (unless at war! or similar "state of emergency")
If the kittens choose to join armed forces - that would be their choice as adults. I would not dictate to them what career they choose. Up to them! I provide them the education, choose the decent school, steer the discipline, try to ensure decency, etc. What they do with it eventually - their choice! You just hope they turn out OK!
Swiss side of family - including own brothers and cousins over here all got conscripted (We girlies did community service
- so we all gave up two years!) They did learn how to use a Swiss Army penknife properly as result
(and a few other useful things - um --- good job "Captain Gatso" is not Swiss then! 
) Police and guns are different because they are in daily contact with Joe Public. Look at some of the UK cops I see out and about - not 100% sure I would trust them with a water pistol - never mind a dangerous weapon
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