Unscary armed police via jo'nas' Flickrstream under a CC licence
The Times reports that the firearms units are there to "reassure the community" as well as sweeping estates for gun hauls. How reassured the presence of officers with guns would make us feel is debatable although it probably depends how unsafe all that gun and gang crime had already made us feel. Not happy thoughts but the visible presence of armed officers on troubled estates certainly reinforces the Met's publicity campaign warning women against hiding guns for their guys. Hopefully as a complement to Operation Trident this measure will reduce shootings on our streets.