Download or read book Arming an Unarmed Police written by P. A. J. Waddington and published by Office of International Criminal Justice. This book was released on 1988 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report explores the use of lethal force by police in the United Kingdom. Following a discussion on the organization and policies of London's Metropolitan Police, the focus turns to weapons, training, issues in the use of force by police and the controversial question of whether police should be armed. The need for tactical and refresher training for police, and appropriate training for police unit-commanders, to make them aware of the tactical operations available to them, is pointed out. The demand for the greater firepower of self-loading pistols may be reduced if ammunition issued to police officers has greater stopping power. An alternative to ball ammunition is necessary, since ball ammunition poses a danger to innocent citizens when it is used. The most acute dilemma is not faced by policymakers but rather by police officers who must decide whether to draw their weapon, to take aim, or to open fire. Sometimes, police officers have only a second in which to decide whether to fire their guns; if they make the wrong decision, the may be killed, or kill someone else unnecessarily. There is a continual need to balance police operational effectiveness against public acceptability and safety.