APCC response to the Police Federation’s routine arming survey 2017
APCC lead for Use of Force, Martyn Underhill PCC said:
“I welcome the results of the Police Federation survey, which underline officers’ continued commitment to the policing by consent principle. It is a testament to the professionalism and integrity of officers that the vast majority of people have confidence in police officers to act impartially and proportionately in carrying out their duties.
“PCCs remain fully committed to policing by consent and would not support the routine arming of officers on our streets, which would have a huge impact on the way that the police positively engage in our communities.
“Despite this, we recognise that in recent times, policing has found itself operating within a rapidly evolving landscape. From the challenges posed by terrorism to the increase in reported knife crime, threats to public safety are constantly emerging and resources remain stretched.
“Against this backdrop, the debate on how to best equip officers has been brought to the fore, with forces nationally examining uplifts in firearms and Taser provision. It is imperative that the right tools are made available to officers to enable them to bring any incident to a safe conclusion for both themselves and the public, but, fundamentally, care must be taken to protect our policing model.”