First job of the police is to protect the public but they need the weapons to do the job properly after London Bridge attack

IT was just eight minutes between the first call about the attack at London Bridge and the death of the terrorists. This response time was hugely impressive.

But the first officers to encounter the killers were armed with only batons, weapons no more efficient than the bar stools and bottles used by the public.

3

To me the first job of the police is to protect the public, but how do they do that if they can’t protect themselves?

And what if the perpetrators had chosen a different target?

When Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered by Islamist militants in Woolwich – nine miles from London Bridge – the first, unarmed, police arrived within four or five minutes.

3

MOST READ IN OPINION

THE SUN SAYS

Donald Trump’s war on International Criminal Court is a reckoning long overdue

DOUGLAS MURRAY

Trump's stopping US spending on crazy foreign projects - why can't Britain?

JEREMY CLARKSON

PM thinks he should run everything. But look at NHS, immigration & police

JULIA HARTLEY-BREWER

Why are we letting migrants coming on work permits claim benefits?

3

But through no fault of their own they were then left standing behind the incident tape for ten to 12 minutes for armed back-up to arrive.

In 1983 – at the height of the IRA’s terror campaign – more than 5,000 officers in London were authorised to carry firearms.

Today, London has just over 2,000 armed officers.

That number should increase in the interest of public safety. Every new officer should now join on the understanding that they may be required to carry a firearm.

And all serving officers who are prepared to take on the responsibility should be armed as soon as possible.