Why British Police Don't Have Guns

Why British Police Don't Have Guns
A British police officer stands on duty as people leave flowers close to the scene where two female police officers were killed answering a routine call-out to the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, Greater Manchester, northwestern England on September 19, 2012. A top British policeman warned on September 19 against rushing into any move to routinely arm officers after two unarmed policewomen were killed in a gun and grenade attack. Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, died after going to investigate a reported robbery on September 18. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GettyImages)
A British police officer stands on duty as people leave flowers close to the scene where two female police officers were killed answering a routine call-out to the Hattersley estate in Mottram, Tameside, Greater Manchester, northwestern England on September 19, 2012. A top British policeman warned on September 19 against rushing into any move to routinely arm officers after two unarmed policewomen were killed in a gun and grenade attack. Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, died after going to investigate a reported robbery on September 18. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GettyImages)

The deaths of two female police constables have brought into focus the unarmed status of most British police. Why does Britain hold firm against issuing guns to officers on the beat?

It's the single most obvious feature that sets the British bobby apart from their counterparts overseas.

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