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Armed police rejected

Armed police rejected
Senior politicians and police representatives have rejected the routine arming of police, after calls to reconsider the policy.

A debate over the issue emerged after two police officers were killed in Manchester. Nick Clegg said the move would break "a long tradition" of policing in the community.

"We have a long tradition in this country, which is a great tradition, of policing in the community, of the police being part of the public, and the public supporting and giving their consent to the police," the Deputy Prime Minister told BBC News.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it "would be a very sad day if we lost our long British tradition of unarmed policing", while the head of the Association of Chief Police Officers, Sir Hugh Orde, said the force was against being armed “from top to bottom”.

Home Secretary Theresa May tonight praised the two "brave and talented" officers, calling their murder a "savage act" of brutality.

Speaking after meeting with Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy, Ms May said the deaths had left grieving families and "devastated" the service.

"Their deaths remind us what police officers can face every day," she added.

In a press conference this evening, Sir Peter confirmed a second man had been arrested over the shooting, and thanked the public for the "tremendous" support offered to the force

The killings have also sparked calls for the re-introduction of the death penalty. "Anyone who kills an officer should be hanged," said Paul Bone, whose daughter Fiona died in the gun and grenade attack.

His call was supported by former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit, who said the "deterrent effect of the shadow of the gallows" should be debated.

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