CPS= Criminal Protection Service.

The problem with arming officers all the time is that although gun crime is getting worse in some areas, by arming officers you will simply prompt more criminals to carry guns regularly as they will see a need to protect themselves. There is also the issue of a police officer being held hostage. E.g. You get an idiot with a baseball bat holding his ex wife and kid hostage because he thinks he got a raw deal in court blah blah blah. Somehow he takes a copper hostage who happens to have a gun on him. Now he isnt just armed with a baseball bat but with a gun. Its a reason as to why Thames Valley Police won't allow their officers to even carry Swiss army knives.

Another issue is the budget they get which most of the time is inadequate. Replacing police officers with Police Support Officers is a joke. They have naff all power to do anything and I really don't see the point. The only reason their job was invented was so Labour could save a few quid and still claim they had 'Police' on the streets. Stop wasting money on stupid projects like bailing Northern Rock out and fund public services better. Imagine what they could do with the 20 odd billion that one took from the tax payer.