Pure madness.................again

[j hardy]

It was not uncommon 10 years ago to see police on foot patrol in Sunderland wearing sidearms

says a lot about the north east then.

[j.sabourn]

Well you know what these makems and takems are like. JS

[Tony Taylor]

says a lot about the north east then.

Yes.
It was a surprise to me at the time also but it was my brother who told me at the time as he was a police officer stationed there at the time

[happy daze john in oz]

It does not matter how many laws there are unless policed they are about as useful as you know what on a bull.
Laws in USA vary from state to state but that does not stop any one from buying in one state and using in another.

The Duck hunting season is upon us here in Victoria, yes unlike some other states it is still legal here, even though we are in the middle of one hell of a drought and there are not that many ducks about.
But see the hunters when they go shooting ducks. Dressed in camouflage dress looking more like, 'Rambo' than a real hunter.
Shooting at ducks, but most do not know the difference between a duck and a Wombat, if it is near the lake and it moves then shoot it is their philosophy.

NZ today has announced a Royal Commission into the events of the shooting, they want to find out what happened and why?????
Some think that the department for national security was not on the ball and did not see this coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since WW2 more people have died as a result of war than during the war, and no doubt the number of deaths caused by fire arms is higher then ever before.
With all our gun laws here in Victoria we still had over six shot and killed over the past couple of weeks.

In London a couple of years ago we were down by Parliament house and I got to speak with a couple of police there.
Both carried automatic weapons and when asked if they ever used them I was told, 'if we need to we will in order to protect the public'.
Long gone the days when all they had was a whistle and a trunceon.

[j.sabourn]

Even with a whistle and a truncheon there were still those who shouted Police Brutality. The police are usually damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Such members of the public protection services must see some awful sights today. They earn their crust of bread regardless. JS

[Tony Taylor]

Even with a whistle and a truncheon there were still those who shouted Police Brutality. The police are usually damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Such members of the public protection services must see some awful sights today. They earn their crust of bread regardless. JS

You may or may not be aware, that even years ago if a police had to draw his truncheon he had to write up a report for his reasons for doing so.
Criminals these days seem to get off very lightly when you consider some of the damage they cause both to people and property. Their defence arguments are so common these days there must be a guide book available (assuming they can read that is).

[Chris Allman]

Having carried both a truncheon and a gun in the Police, I can assure you that there was and still is stringent rules for the carriage and control of all defensive items issued to a Police officer these days. When the new long and also the telescopic batons were issued we had to go on special three day courses to handle them and if you did not pass you were not issued with the item. Same with the handcuffs, that was a day long course plus a couple of extra hand holds taught.

Guns of course were a different matter. Two week courses per weapon type ( Revolver / Shotgun / Rifle - culminating with a qualification shoot. No pass no authorisation. All this followed by two monthly re-qualification shoots which if you did not qualify your authorisation was withdrawn immediately.

Now all this was in the 70s - 90s after that I have no idea of the procedures but I do know they were even more stringent when the Taser and the Pepper Sprays came in. Both of these were treated as Firearms and regulated accordingly.

The Officer is responsible for his use of any of these items so he has to be 100% alert and careful at all times. There are always human factors and accidents and these can never be ruled out completely no matter how many rules and regulations. A Police Officers lot is never a happy lot, especially these days.

[j.sabourn]

I had an acquaintance who rose to the ranks of sergeant major in one of the regiments. Whilst stationed in Aden during the old troubles during the time of Mad Mick. All ncos were allowed to carry side arms and him being of warrant rank was well covered by the paperwork. However he told me that whilst on liberty he had cause to draw his weapon on a taxi driver. Bad move, he lost his rank and was transferred to Borneo. Where he had a better excuse for using the tools of a soldier. JS

[Fouro]

I had an acquaintance who rose to the ranks of sergeant major in one of the regiments. Whilst stationed in Aden during the old troubles during the time of Mad Mick. All ncos were allowed to carry side arms and him being of warrant rank was well covered by the paperwork. However he told me that whilst on liberty he had cause to draw his weapon on a taxi driver. Bad move, he lost his rank and was transferred to Borneo. Where he had a better excuse for using the tools of a soldier. JS

Lt Col Colin Campbell Mitchell acquired the nickname "Mad Mitch" after seeking revenge for the deaths of three of his own Argylls whilst they were on a patrol with the Northumberland Fusiliers. All but one of that patrol were shot and killed (eight) when they were ambushed by Aden Police mutineers in the Crater district of Aden.

Regards from
Fouro.

[j.sabourn]

Sorry misnamed him as Mick. Memory loss is something we all get to at some time. Although there are some things one never forget even going back 66 years and first trip to sea, and the expression on the face of a dead greaser whose face and body had to look at for 8 hours a day for about 4 days , but even him I can’t remember his name today. Cheers JS.