Even Lord Stevens has changed his mind after the murder of the WPC . He now advocates that the killer, when caught, should receive the death sentence.
The police force of late has suffered from having weak Home Secretaries and a politically correct govt which has affected police efficiency and morale. All the rank and file want to do is provide a service where the public have confidence in them. This confidence, badly eroded during the past 15 years, can be rebuilt with good leadership and a sound govt in law and order.
Getting back to the shooting it is not sufficient for the police authority to state that the officers were duly equipped in wearing body armour. If the villains carry guns then the only alternative, sad to say, is for the police to be armed. It is indeed a sad state of affairs but I can see no alternative.
The solution can only be towards considering the reintroduction of the death sentence for certain offences and the police being armed.
I speak as a retired officer who served in better times.
My heart goes out to the family and colleagues in what must be one of the most tragic cases there has ever been. The murderers must be caught!