OT British Cop leaves Glock in Starbucks.

[gamekeeper]

I know anyone can screw up but if I had left a gun somewhere I could kiss goodbye to my gun license for good!!


LONDON (Reuters) - A specialist armed police officer is facing investigation after leaving a loaded gun in a Starbucks cafe in central London, police said on Thursday.


The unnamed officer, who the Sun newspaper said provided personal protection for Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair, forgot the weapon after she visited the coffee house last week.

"A police issue firearm was left unattended in a central London cafe on Friday evening and was found by a member of the public," a Metropolitan Police (MPS) spokeswoman said.

"The weapon belongs to an MPS authorised firearms officer who was on duty at the time. An investigation has begun."

Apart from specialist officers, such as those who respond to armed incidents or those who guard dignitaries, the vast majority of British police officers do not carry guns.

The spokeswoman gave no details about the person involved. The Sun said it was a female officer aged in her 30s whose job was to protect Blair.

The paper said the semi-automatic Glock 17 gun had been left in a toilet of the cafe after the officer took off her belt.

It said the officer had been relieved of her duties while the investigation was underway.

"She knows she has messed up bad," a police source told the Sun.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

[bigbore442001]

It cracks me up as well. I agree, if that happened to me I would kiss my LTC goodbye as well for at least five years. Amazing how forgiving some departments are.

[Borregos]

I hope they deal with her appropriately, but I doubt it!!

[Andrew]

I think it might give a good look at how much responsibility that person really espouses when armed with not just a CCW, but a tool that they use to do their job.

[airedaleman]

Female officer. Starbucks. Hmph! I got my coffee at all-night gas stations...

[EnglishBarry]

Hello one and all. My first post on this forum.

A few years back, English armed respose unit officers, put their guns on the roof of their car, yep, they drove off and lost them at a roundabout. A law abiding citizen handed them in. I think it was before the hand gun ban in the UK. That is something that has worked so well, armed crime up 48%, drive by shootings, gang warfare, all on the increase. I had to get rid of my handguns, so bought a .444 Marlin and a few other Winchesters. Oh they let me keep my SPAS 12, but I can't be trusted with a handgun.

Have fun.

Barry

[gamekeeper]

Welcome to the camp fire EnglishBarry.

Ain't it great to know we can depend on these "ARMED" officers to protect us.

[Nath]

Proffesionals and guns! Very dangerous! I allways question myself as to why would someone want a job that the sole purpose involves shooting someone? But I can not defend myself with a weapon! Why do my tax's pay for blairs "protection" but none of my income can go to a similar form of personal defence for my self? Someone is **@ft*** me and I don't like it!

Hi EnglishBarry, Where abouts are you if you don't mind saying?

Nath.

[EnglishBarry]

Proffesionals and guns! Very dangerous! I allways question myself as to why would someone want a job that the sole purpose involves shooting someone? But I can not defend myself with a weapon! Why do my tax's pay for blairs "protection" but none of my income can go to a similar form of personal defence for my self? Someone is **@ft*** me and I don't like it!

Hi EnglishBarry, Where abouts are you if you don't mind saying?

Nath.

Thanks for the greeting Gamekeeper.

Nath, Yorkshire, near Bronte country.

I carried a gun for the army for 10 years and have carried on and off for the last 40, my sole purpose is not to shoot someone, but to stop me from getting shot. But now I just lay on the beach and soak up the sunshine (when I get back to the Philippines that is) I have only seen the sun a few times in the UK. See www.wowbantayan.com to see where I should be.

Sorry for the thread drift.

Barry

All citizens are usually shafted by politicians, it just depends on the size of the shaft.

[Nath]

Got to differ with you on that one Barry. If someone wishes to join the army or police armed responce team it is because they wish to shoot someone, it's not to play tiddly winks is it. If the whole police force was armed then it's what goes with the job whilst serving the people which is very differant. However we have a "crack" team who are on standby to solely shoot someone should the need arise, not in their personal defense but to activly intervene as third parties. To voluntere for such a position means they must find it attractive to shoot a person.
The woman in question took the job not so she could be near Blair, it was to shoot someone in behalf of Blair because he is not caperble himself, she is his mercenary.
Citizens are often shafted by goverment but as a subject and not a citizen I feel shafted more than most, you Sir worked for the crown and as is often the case the crown looks after those. But when a goverment expects me to die at the hands of a thug that is beyond "shafted" that is sick!
My problem is half my blood is Germanic and this "it'll be allright on the night" British attitude don't do it for me.
I feel happy for you in as much you have had the opportunity to carry for your protection, but as I said the "crown" takes care of it's own.

Nath.

[Hillbilly]

I thought the British were neat and tidy folks...leaving a gun about like that isnt very neat.

hmmm... 007 never lost his gun.............

Jeff

[Griff]

Welcome EnglishBarry.

As one who has carried for the vast majority of his adult life in "defense of God and Country"; or as we used to say, "armed & dangerous in defense of God & country", I volunteered for high risk assignments a couple of times. Not always is it done with the intent to shoot, sometimes it's seen as a quicker way up the ladder of command, sometimes one needs the little tick marks in certain boxes on yer record, a little 6-month walk on the wild side can boost yer ratings with the higher ups and give you an edge on the competition.

Yes, certainly there are those "gung-ho" types that live for the adrenalin rush (I don't exactly mind it myself), but in all my years of carrying a badge, I never shot anyone, and I'm quite proud to have been able to accomplish that. Now, admittedly, that accomplishment was only due to the actions of those that found themselves under my scrutiny... I have been at full-cock on a DA revolver with a perp on more than one ocassion. His following instructions is the ONLY thing that kept him alive, not me.

Anyone can undergo a momentary lapse... & I would certainly be hypcritical if I said I'd never suffered a lapse... but really, leaving yer duty piece in the loo!! "uh, pa'don me, Mr. PM, I must skip back into the loo and retreive my, ah, ah, oh, ah, "essentials?"