8. Do Police Need Guns?

In this book we have probed the doctrine of minimum force policing. Is “minimum force” merely an aphorism, a rhetorical position which is vulnerable to challenge? Or can the efficacy of minimum force, for both the community and police themselves, be demonstrated with tested evidence? We have also unpacked the armed tradition of policing, and questioned the frequent, confident assertion that the community will be better protected and that police will be safer if they are routinely armed. Again: is there evidence to support this claim? This chapter draws together our explorations of core theoretical and conceptual elements of police power and use of force, the empirical findings of our comparative study, and the discussion of the subtle influence of media on policing style. Our research findings highlight that the assumptions which support the routine arming of police officers need much more careful consideration and analysis than has previously been applied. There is growing pressure in some currently unarmed jurisdictions to move towards more militarised and routinely armed policing. We implore those advocating for such change, and those tasked with making such a fundamental decision, to think through and test the assumptions made about the need for routinely armed police officers. Put simply, do all police officers actually need guns? We do not claim to provide a comprehensive answer, but we hope to demonstrate that the question is real and important, and that the standard rhetorical justifications for arming police are not supported by clear evidence.