Green_Homer
LE
Without going into specifics on the AFO curriculum - the actual amount of time spent on SAA is relatively small compared to the tactics side which obviously has a Police centric focus. NPFI's are critical for delivering the training from start to finish for this reason.
2 weeks (plus at least every 6 months range refreshers) abstraction for a lot of HO forces IS a big deal - they struggle to get their officers through annual PST & first aid refreshers and retain something resembling a minimum staffing level!
Routine arming can be done but as others have stated will take years - initial costs will be huge and are simply unaffordable; then there's the culture shift and persuading officers that they won't be hung out to dry for making an honest judgement call based on split second honest held decisions.
INMHO I think all officers should have this additional tool on their belt. It won't magically stop them having all of the essential people skills needed for the job!
2 weeks (plus at least every 6 months range refreshers) abstraction for a lot of HO forces IS a big deal - they struggle to get their officers through annual PST & first aid refreshers and retain something resembling a minimum staffing level!
Routine arming can be done but as others have stated will take years - initial costs will be huge and are simply unaffordable; then there's the culture shift and persuading officers that they won't be hung out to dry for making an honest judgement call based on split second honest held decisions.
INMHO I think all officers should have this additional tool on their belt. It won't magically stop them having all of the essential people skills needed for the job!