They will do the best, but there is no such thing as 100% secuity. And they are there to protect everyone. And anyone could be a terrorist or a nutter so you are talking of millions of of people who are all suspects

..and that's where GCHQ and communications intelligence comes in, which people don't like when they hear about mass survailance, but what they need to remember is humans don't read every one of their boring text messages, it is about highlighting specific threats and hunting for suspects. A large number of plots have been prevented, people need to accept that we need to strike a balance, and people need to think of it as filtering communications not reading it, 99.9% of it isn't read but it is probably is filtered.

I work with AFO's everyday. I was being pedantic (incorrectly). They are semi automatic / single shot carbines. However the MP5 (UK police use the single fire one, but are mostly moving away from it now) is technically submachine gun, so my bad.

Never known the sticker thing, must be force specific. Cant see a need though, you know which vehicles are ARV because you know the officers and they drive vehicles. You also know where everyone is because of the comms.

Seem to remember its more for the fire/ambulance so they can tell should there be an accident that if the cars on fire etc there is a load of stuff that suddenly could fly out in all directions or at least in an accident that normally wouldn't be a police call out get someone to make the vehicle 'safe'.

Still can't see the need for it TBH, although I'm not saying it wasn't a thing somewhere, but not the two forces I have worked for. If there was an accident involving one of the ARVs, the other emergency services would all know virtually instantly, well before they got there.

The yellow circle sticker for ARV is only used by the met, IIRC.

Other forces tend to use the *, which is the same as the aerial marking for an ARV. The Met's choice of circle is confusing as that's the aerial marking for an IRV.

Met ARV with the stickers: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/...3187320950.jpg

Hampshire ARV with the *: https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7310/1...d054694a_b.jpg

The colour/position varies by force. Here's a TVP ARV, with orange * on the bonnet: http://www.policecaruk.com/PCUKonSho...PCUKTVPOD3.JPG

(Some forces also use triangles for dog units)

Very probably.

London is the city most likely to be the focus of any terrorist attack (and for all we know, the security services and police may have intelligence that the public aren't aware of) and so they focus their resources there.

We tend not to see legions of armed coppers on the streets of Penzance because the likelihood of anybody blowing us up is extremely remote. And jolly glad of that I am, too. And so I don't have any concerns about a lack of armed-to-the-teeth rozzers in full kevlar protection, hunkering down in armoured land rovers, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice, doesn't bother me at all.

I'm quite sure if any place up there in the heathen north was under threat, there would be an appropriate police response. Perhaps rather than being resentful, they should be reassured, and glad they don't have to put up with such a visible and foreboding police presence in their face when they go out for the evening to enjoy themselves.

Living in a small town with no official celebrations cannot talk about Police here tonight.
But over the summer we had a street festival with about 250,000 around at times. Police were armed, but over years they always have those red white plastic blocks (weighted?) or transit vans parked at access points (some points are for ambulances and council vehicles.

But counting vehicle and foot entry, can never be enough armed officers.

I guess this is the issue for any event tonight. Security but access to Ambulances.

I think its more that if one of them is there on the scene lets say just by passing by they'll know that theres firearms in the vehicle and be more careful and also it'll be certainly be a priority rather than just sending a tow truck.

But then again I always remember in the US a pic of some copper driving around with his shotgun on the roof and the Welsh copper who got away with getting a BJ on duty as he still had his weapon under his control

But if i see a car with a star or circle on it and the officers just nipped out and left the keys in the ignition then.....hellooooo mama I just got me next christmas sorted Given my luck its the next 20 christmas's sorted at Liz's pleasure

It's sad that it is necessary, but it is necessary so there we are.

Thanks to all the people working tonight to keep the public safe.

I am with you on that. I really hope it all passes peacefully, but better safe than sorry.