What Would You Do If You Were The London Police In This Scenario?

[DistressedAmerican]

Many have been arguing that this "shoot to kill" order in England is needed. I strongly disagree. But, for discussion let's say it is needed.

I have serious questions about the policy was carried out in this instance.

How effectively was this policy applied in this case?

A suspect is spotted coming out of a building under surveillance some 2km away from the tube station. He is wearing heavy clothing and a pack in summer and police believe he may have a bomb.

If you are the police which do you do:

A) follow the suspect to the station and try to apprehend them right there in the middle of a crowd
OR
B) stop him as soon as possible and before he entered a crowd of people

Even stipulating that this policy is for the greater good (which I do not believe), can you honestly say that those dealing with this suspect should have let it come to chasing a possibly bomb wielding suspect through a crowded underground station?

Or should it have been handled on the street or possibly right at the building he came out of?

How many of those tube riders were put at risk by police who allowed a man that they believed to be carrying a bomb into the station in the first place?

[rucky]

1. They never even carried guns until very recently.

modern solutions to modern problems seem to create their own set of additional problems.

[MSgt213]

2. The points you raise are vaild. If in fact they let him leave the house

even suspecting he might have had a bomb. That's why I say wait until the investigation is complete and find out what the hell happen to let it get as far as it did.

[stlsaxman]

3. Anything short of SHOOTING HIM 5 TIMES IN THE HEAD while he's down!

they had him pinned down and shot him in the head, right?!?!?

Heard on BBC this morning...

how 'murkin these bobbies have become.

[bushisanidiot]

4. If the police are going to treat citizens as the enemy, it won't be long

until the citizenry rises up as "insurgents" against them. terrorism breeds terrorism.. no matter if it committed by the police, the government, or "jihadists".

the sad thing is.. those who organized the 7/7 bombings are probably laughing their heads off at how quickly the police will shoot and kill innocent people in order to "protect" them.

[Deja Q]

5. Call up the Daleks on the intergalactic pay phone & invite them to dinner.

:evilgrin:

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Kicker. Really Am Curios Why More People Are Not Asking This Question...