Should the police have the power to use live bullets on rioters?

[antsbargains]

YES - YES - YES!!!!

Maybe if we start geting tough on these lawbreakers they would think twice before destroying other peoples property and lives.

To many "do-gooders" in this country - perhaps if they were the victims they would change their mind.

[Brunwulf]

To many "do-gooders" in this country - perhaps if they were the victims they would change their mind.

YES, I guarantee that, ( ***JIMBO'S LIFETIME GUARANTEE*** )

[astral276]

Sadly, our police are damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they go in robustly they are accused of being heavy-handed and exacerbating a situation. If they go softy-softly they are accused of inaction. They simply cannot win.

We also cannot afford to maintain police numbers sufficient to respond immediately to rare events. That means there will always be a time lag between such an event starting and sufficient police being diverted to deal with it.

I would like to see something akin to the Riot Act brought back. A clear marker that beyond that point the gloves come off, and anyone remaining in the area and/or continuing an action will not be afforded the niceties of treatment that are normally afforded. There needs to be something that draws a line between legitimate protest (which must be protected) and illegality.

In the case of an immediate threat to innocent lives, the police should be able to use any means (up to, as a last resort, lethal force) to protect the public.

Must say I am sick of watching the police having to stand there while lumps of concrete and petrol bombs are lobbed at them.

Water cannons? Yes. Preferably (if such exists) a dye that persistently stains the skin mixed in. They could then round up those coloured like a tomato days later.

Tazers? Use should be available - but they are a close quarter weapon so likely not much use in such situations.

Tear gas and baton rounds - yes.

Use of the military? Not keen on that. Not what they are for, and they should not be turned on the people of their own country.

Will the police get powers such as those proposed? Likely not - the Bleeding Heart Brigade are a vocal minority - who have played a large part in bringing us to where we are.

I recall someone saying after the riots (but don't recall who) that things needed to change so that people were afraid of the police. That is garbage. What they need to be afraid of is a high certainty of being apprehended and then being dealt with robustly by the courts. We should never get to a state where we are afraid of our police.

[burgyeb]

Rubber? Well, can rubber bullets bring someone down? If the level of violence became life threatening to officers or other civilians, are "real bullets available to officers? If no, that's scary to me. Our officers carry real guns with real bullets, that they are prepared to use if necessary. I walk up to officers armed like that readily to ask questions and get directions. I do not fear them, I see them as a public servant there to help, and the public should respect them as such.

[damian_steele]

Just so everyone is clear

Live rounds are "rubber bullets" fired from a casings that contains explosive, its just the uk media trying to make it a bigger story than it is.

No, that's not correct.

I have seen multiple reports which clearly make the distinction between live rounds and rubber bullets. This report is talking about the use of LEAD BULLETS, as well as other non-lethal measures. So we are talking about rioters being shot dead (in extreme circumstances) and not just hit by rubber.

[BLOXBOOKS]

Rubber? Well, can rubber bullets bring someone down? If the level of violence became life threatening to officers or other civilians, are "real bullets available to officers? If no, that's scary to me. Our officers carry real guns with real bullets, that they are prepared to use if necessary. I walk up to officers armed like that readily to ask questions and get directions. I do not fear them, I see them as a public servant there to help, and the public should respect them as such.

Rubber and Plastic bullets do bring people down, and they do kill...adults and children. So they are not a soft option. Thing is with real bullets the police over here have a knack of shooting the wrong or innocent people multiple times (and unarmed) plus our police have a good track record of getting rid of folk, they call it justifiable Homicide.

[astral276]

This report is talking about the use of LEAD BULLETS...

Why do they make bullets out of lead? Don't they know it is poisonous?

[Brunwulf]

Rubber? Well, can rubber bullets bring someone down? If the level of violence became life threatening to officers or other civilians, are "real bullets available to officers? If no, that's scary to me. Our officers carry real guns with real bullets, that they are prepared to use if necessary. I walk up to officers armed like that readily to ask questions and get directions. I do not fear them, I see them as a public servant there to help, and the public should respect them as such.

As gun crime is far less in the uk , we have highly trained police teams that are called out to firearm crime in the uk , yes they have real bullets and can shoot to kill .

Yes rubber bullets kill at short range and so can tasers.

[moonwitch]

Rubber? Well, can rubber bullets bring someone down? If the level of violence became life threatening to officers or other civilians, are "real bullets available to officers? If no, that's scary to me. Our officers carry real guns with real bullets, that they are prepared to use if necessary. I walk up to officers armed like that readily to ask questions and get directions. I do not fear them, I see them as a public servant there to help, and the public should respect them as such.

I would have no problem interacting with police officers that were armed. My dad served with our Ministry of Defense police back in the 70's and had arms training so was allowed to carry a gun if needed.

While our government uses nonsensical rules to restrict our police in doing their job and while there are particular groups that the government want to silence (I belong to such a group) then I wouldn't trust them to organise a police force that was allowed to use live weapons.

[papagran40]

so can a builders brick thrown by some idiot...the rioters aeem to have plenty of do gooders on their side...who is in the side of law and oder...who are going to protect the police while the police are protecting other peoples lives or property...as someone said earlier..would the do gooders feel the same if it was their property that was being destroyed ??? no I do not think they would...so my answer for what it is worth....yes , let the police use live ammo...infact , I think it is time the police were armed all the time....perhaps then we might see a drop in crime and possibly a little more respect for the law.....papa.