When Police are Routinely Armed is the Community Safer? Are Police Safer?

• In Event: Police Use of Force

Abstract

Police across the world now routinely carry firearms for general duties. In most western nations, it is now the norm. This represents a significant change in practice over the last forty years. The reasons vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but the legitimacy of the modern practice is never questioned. The policy of routinely arming police should be, I argue, up for renewed debate, given the number of times that firearms are resorted to by police today with fatal consequences, and the number of cases when officers use their own weapons to end their lives. This presentation will review current themes and trends regarding the routine deployment firearms in general patrol activities. Are we safer if police are routinely armed? Are police safer? What does the evidence tell us?

Author

• Rick Sarre, University of South Australia