Alarm Over Firearm Patrols

On Friday we reported that the Met was doubling its armed police presence on certain gun and gang crime hotspots north and south of the river. Today, the ES reports that Scotland Yard is apparently in 'disarray' over the plans, having been accused by Metropolitan Police Authority members of neither consulting high enough (ie at Commissioner and Mayor level) nor wide enough, meaning the local communities at the heart of these problem areas. Fears are also being voiced that this move could be a prelude to arming all police. The MPA will debate this as an urgent issue at their meeting this Thursday.