Ex-Firearms Officer Shows Difficultly In Separating Politics And Safety

5 June 2017, 12:19

A serving policeman called James O’Brien to give an honest assessment of the problems police face and the difficulty of de-politicising it.

Theresa May, who was Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016, has come in for heavy criticism in the wake of recent terror attacks for presiding over a 20,000 cut in police numbers and a reduction of 1,300 firearms officers.

Those who have raised the criticism have been accused of trying to make political capital out of tragedy.

John is a current serving officer and former firearms officer. He gave his informed view of the situation.

“I don’t know if the cuts in police have effected more of these attacks going on. I can understand it from a local policing side of things, because you need people gathering evidence and working with communities.

“But people using this as a political tool to get more votes, I don’t agree with.”

He said a big problem is a lack of honesty from across the political spectrum.

“Just be honest. Say ‘we’re actively trying to recruit officers and this is the problem with trying to recruit more firearm officers.’ But they don’t, do they.”

He proposed one idea to increase the number of firearms officers in the short term.

“There are people like myself, who are now doing different roles who have done a firearms course that they could utilise by saying ‘right, lets get you on a course, maybe a 2 week course, to get you back up to speed’. Then we could be used if the worst was to happen. That’s not been mentioned anywhere.”

John praised the response of firearm officers on Saturday, but warned “it would not always be like that.”

James said that if that is the case, then to him it looked like there was a clear link between cuts and safety.

“It’s so difficult,” John said.

“And that’s the sound of someone being honest,” James said “Whereas a politician kind of has to pretend it isn’t.”

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien and listeners with her analysis of the 'new world order'

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her analysis of the 'new world order'

Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

LBC callers: Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC callers give their reaction to findings that 20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel betrayed by America

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel 'betrayed' by America

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West

James O'Brien

Caller John: 'The best way to understand Trump tariffs is Red Dwarf'

James O'Brien

James O'Brien challenges caller to provide evidence of Israeli accountability

James O'Brien

LBC callers share landlord horror stories

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible.

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible