More than a third of police officers in England and Wales believe they should be able to carry guns at all times, a survey of 32,000 officers has found.
The Police Federation interviewed a quarter of the workforce, saying 34.1% supported routinely arming officers.
In 2006, when the body last conducted firearms research, 23.4% of officers backed routine arming.
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) is currently reviewing whether UK police need more armed capacity.
Of the 32,000 officers who responded to the survey, 8.9% said police should be routinely armed on- or off-duty, and a further 25.2% said police should be armed on-duty only.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41361091
Which of these options would you choose
1. Police officers carrying guns at all times.
2. Police officers armed on duty only.
3. As now when armed units are a special force.
Personally I think it should be up to the individual officer to choose whether or when to carry arms or not, assuming his senior officers have no doubt about his temperament and ability.