Top Cop wants British Army on the streets, protecting us

scotsman: Police chief urges 'bold' changes

The military could be hired by chief constables to work as temporary armed police, Britain's top police officer has suggested.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair called on officers to be "bold" and consider a range of radical changes to police pay and working practices.

Sir Ian's proposals on using soldiers as firearms officers on Britain's streets are hugely controversial in the wake of his force's shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in July.

"Could we bring staff directly in from the armed forces, give them a small amount of basic training and then clear instructions as to their firearms duties... to undertake only those duties," he said. [db emphasis] Read more

db: A 'small amount of basic training' - wasn't that part of the problem in the first place? Please resign now, and save us all the trouble of hounding you out of office.