Petition · past parliament
It is now time for the British Police to be routinely armed.
Closed
87 signatures
What the petition asks
British Police should be given the choice to carry firearms for self defence, the defence of others, and the containment of any active shooter incidents.
Specialist firearms teams numbers are falling due to budget cuts and response times are rising. This will be 30mins or more outside major cities.
Specialist firearms teams numbers are falling due to budget cuts and response times are rising. This will be 30mins or more outside major cities.
No officer should be compelled to carry firearms however there is a wealth of existing ex military and hobbiest firearms experience that is untapped and not used.
These officers could be quickly and cheaply refreshed and using firearms safely to protect the public in a few short hours per month. This need be no different to the firearms training given to the reserve forces, or the use by PSNI.
A Glock 9mm pistol is far cheaper and more useful than the current issue TASER.
These officers could be quickly and cheaply refreshed and using firearms safely to protect the public in a few short hours per month. This need be no different to the firearms training given to the reserve forces, or the use by PSNI.
A Glock 9mm pistol is far cheaper and more useful than the current issue TASER.
Timeline
| 20 Nov 2015 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 20 May 2016 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
87
Status
Closed
Opened
20 Nov 2015
Closed
20 May 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.