ARmy Rumour SErvice

**mullerkin** · 01-05-2012, 01:25

Originally Posted by Boumer

*ahem*

This is where we all came in, isn't it?

Love the captions:

"he is not holding the rifle in this picture", thanks for that

Are we sure he's wearing body armour? Assault vest yes, but body armour? under his t shirt?

And he appears to be wearing those zip-off trousers just in case the sun comes out, bet he felt really silly when he realised it was raining!!

(I don't pretend to be an expert on this but I havent heard SRR suggested yet, who were rumoured to be involved in the charles menezez cock up)

**Effendi** · 01-05-2012, 01:32

Originally Posted by scalieback

Couldn't agree more that GB police should be approachable. First it was quick cuffs, then it was batons, then CS/pepper, stab vests etc. Not sure what the solution is personally, but there's nothing worse imo than seeing a Snr cop doing a tv broadcast wearing an Under Armour shirt

Blame the miners strike. Thats where the para-militarisation of the UK's civilian police force started...........when that first plod picked up a dustbin lid to use as a shield against bricks and bottles causing a kneejerk reaction in a series of beancounters who then had to go out PDQ and procure riot shields, shin pads, boxes etc, etc, etc.

From there, once the defence supply companies had a foot in the door of the constabularies it did'nt take much to convince holders of public purses to part with crinkly stuff in exchange for more toys. Away went the firearms and equipment that had been available to me when I joined, the .38 special revolvers, the double barreled shotguns and scoped hunting rifles. Instead, in their place came Glocks, MP5's, Accuracy International rifles, fire resistant suits, riot helmets and body armour.

**scalieback** · 01-05-2012, 01:40

Originally Posted by Effendi

Blame the miners strike. Thats where the para-militarisation of the UK's civilian police force started...........when that first plod picked up a dustbin lid to use as a shield against bricks and bottles causing a kneejerk reaction in a series of beancounters who then had to go out PDQ and procure riot shields, shin pads, boxes etc, etc, etc.

I'd agree if you said Brixton in '81 and using dustbin lids. Miner's strike was 84-85.

Originally Posted by Effendi

From there, once the defence supply companies had a foot in the door of the constabularies it did'nt take much to convince holders of public purses to part with crinkly stuff in exchange for more toys. Away went the firearms and equipment that had been available to me when I joined, the .38 special revolvers, the double barreled shotguns and scoped hunting rifles. Instead, in their place came Glocks, MP5's, Accuracy International rifles, fire resistant suits, riot helmets and body armour.

I know, albeit a lot of that had to do with the removal of the Crown exemption from H&SaW'74.

**Oddbod** · 01-05-2012, 01:48

AFO's: terrifying Northumbrian grannies since 2010......

**mgmidget** · 01-05-2012, 04:15

Originally Posted by Oddbod

AFO's: terrifying Northumbrian grannies since 2010......

Whats that picture got to do with this thread?

**"Maxwell" House** · 01-05-2012, 06:15

Originally Posted by mgmidget

Whats that picture got to do with this thread?

Tooled up plod, I imagine

**Micawber** · 01-05-2012, 07:03

Dustbin lids, in the Met anyway, were used Notting Hill '76, I think. Shields were issued by '77 for sure.

**Pigshyt_Freeman** · 01-05-2012, 07:03

Originally Posted by mgmidget

Whats that picture got to do with this thread?

I imagine to remind us of the daily dangers faced by Plod. Whilst searching for a massive bald roid-head, he is sticking up an old dear with his ally gat - even if she was not actually Moat in disguise, it would have been all too easy for that officer to drop his guard and be stabbed by that old lady with a knitting-needle.

**"Maxwell" House** · 01-05-2012, 07:30

The granny blagger still looks more Joe Pro then the guy in the mail pic. At least he has he buckles done up

**Pigshyt_Freeman** · 01-05-2012, 07:48

Originally Posted by scalieback

I know, albeit a lot of that had to do with the removal of the Crown exemption from H&SaW'74.

Not sure how Glocks, MP5s and 'sniper' rifles used at distances of 50 yards (there's ten grand well spent) are 'safer' than some Remington 870s, revolvers and bolt-action rifles. In fact, I suspect that the opposite is the case.