- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd; First Edition, First Impression edition (22 Feb 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0750946377
- ISBN-13: 978-0750946377
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 546,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Product Description
On 7 July 2005, just before 9 am, explosive devices detonated on London Underground trains at Liverpool Street, Edgware Road and Kings Cross stations and on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. Fifty-six people were killed and over 700 injured. Suicide bombing had come to Britain. Two weeks later, the capital's commuters narrowly missed disaster when four more devices failed to explode. Security in London was increased to unprecedented levels as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair said his force faced 'its largest operational challenge since the war'. Heavily armed police officers patrolling the streets became a regular feature of television news programmes, leaving an enduring impression that unarmed policing in Britain had gone forever and with it the kindly image of the archetypal British bobby. Controversy rages over the increased use of firearms because in the public mind, the hallmark of British security has always been unarmed policing. Now, for the first time, former Head of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit, Mike Waldren, gives his insider account of the changes in Britain's policing, spanning over half a century and including many examples of extraordinary heroism, tragedy, controversy, comedy, intrigue and occasional farce.
About the Author
MICHAEL J. WALDREN QPM, joined the Metropolitan Police in 1967, rising through the ranks to Chief Superintendent, and commander of the London Firearms Unit - a position he held until 2000. Now retired, Mike does consultancy work for the main police firearms committee in the UK and for the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) based in Vienna. He is co-author of London's Armed Police (Arms and Armour Press, 1986). He lives in Middlesex.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Mike Waldren's study of armed policing in London since 1945 is as much a personal memoir as it is a researched study. His earlier book - London's Armed Police written with Robert Gould covers the earlier period and is quite fascinating. In this book he details many of the well-known incidents of the past three decades, in many cases through the eyes of the police who were there. He does not shy away from accounting for errors of judgement, such as the shooting of Stephen Waldorf in 1982 or that of "Cherry" Groce in 1985. He manages to shoe-horn in mention of the Hungerford and Dunblane multiple homicides and their legislative consequences, although these did not take place in London and whilst he dwells at some length on the catalytic murders of three London policemen in London in 1966, he does not mention the legislative consequences of that incident.
The theme of the book is the development, and then the professionalization, of the firearms branch (currently CO19) as both an operational policing tool and as a training division. The Metropolitan police led the way in the UK by having some police officers specialized in the use of firearms, rather than training and arming everybody on a just-in-case basis. This system has worked well for London in the context of armed preparedness - protecting high profile people and places - and it also works well when an armed operation is planned for. It works less well when the need is to react to an incident quickly; all too often, Mike Waldren points out the difficulties created by authorization for the use of firearms being held at a senior (and often inaccessible) level and thus the responsibility of people who aren't on the ground and in many cases probably weren't trained in the fine art of figuring out what needed to be done. A side-bar issue is that unarmed officers still find themselves encountering armed suspects, as they can't plan ahead for such things happening.
This book works very well as a lasting tribute to the men and women who have made speciality armed policing work in London. The author inadvertently exposes the insularity of police firearms training in the UK - despite the enormous amount of literature devoted to the subject, (not to mention the number of world-class experts they could have consulted) the Met's finest only seem to have read one book - Shooting to Live - and then closed the doors to all outside input. He also exposes the lies told by politicians after the Hungerford and Dunblane murders. It is very clear from his accounts that ending civilians having licensed firearms has had no impact whatever on the armed crime problems that his colleagues still face.
The theme of the book is the development, and then the professionalization, of the firearms branch (currently CO19) as both an operational policing tool and as a training division. The Metropolitan police led the way in the UK by having some police officers specialized in the use of firearms, rather than training and arming everybody on a just-in-case basis. This system has worked well for London in the context of armed preparedness - protecting high profile people and places - and it also works well when an armed operation is planned for. It works less well when the need is to react to an incident quickly; all too often, Mike Waldren points out the difficulties created by authorization for the use of firearms being held at a senior (and often inaccessible) level and thus the responsibility of people who aren't on the ground and in many cases probably weren't trained in the fine art of figuring out what needed to be done. A side-bar issue is that unarmed officers still find themselves encountering armed suspects, as they can't plan ahead for such things happening.
This book works very well as a lasting tribute to the men and women who have made speciality armed policing work in London. The author inadvertently exposes the insularity of police firearms training in the UK - despite the enormous amount of literature devoted to the subject, (not to mention the number of world-class experts they could have consulted) the Met's finest only seem to have read one book - Shooting to Live - and then closed the doors to all outside input. He also exposes the lies told by politicians after the Hungerford and Dunblane murders. It is very clear from his accounts that ending civilians having licensed firearms has had no impact whatever on the armed crime problems that his colleagues still face.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Well researched insight into the real story of armed policing in London from the very beginning of the Metropolitan cops. Surpringly you find yourself accepting that armed policing is essential while admiring the officers who seem to truly and constantly strive for the least use of force wherever possible. That said, the ongoing questioning of the use of lethal force is the key to understanding the difference between the gun soaked culture in America and the often misunderstood (but much more rational) British abhorrence of guns. Anyone who reads this will get a clear understanding that there is still clear water (the Atlantic?) between the gun culture of the United States police and their British counterparts.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
I had the good fortune to call upon the services of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit on a number of occasions whilst serving as a Flying Squad officer and I regarded them as top-notch professionals.
Its former head, Mike Waldren has written an excellent, well-researched account of the unit, sensibly peppered with anecdotes from its members.
One aspect of policing in recent times which is highlighted in the book, is the disgraceful way in which senior officers called upon the unit for their expertise and assistance but when it came to actually making a decision as to their deployment, refused to accept their expert guidance, if they felt that if anything should go wrong, they would carry the can. Personally, I believe such supine behaviour should have been recognised by the commissioner by sacking those gutless senior officers on the spot.
For anybody interested in the high-risk world of dedicated (and very brave) armed officers, this book is well worth reading.
Its former head, Mike Waldren has written an excellent, well-researched account of the unit, sensibly peppered with anecdotes from its members.
One aspect of policing in recent times which is highlighted in the book, is the disgraceful way in which senior officers called upon the unit for their expertise and assistance but when it came to actually making a decision as to their deployment, refused to accept their expert guidance, if they felt that if anything should go wrong, they would carry the can. Personally, I believe such supine behaviour should have been recognised by the commissioner by sacking those gutless senior officers on the spot.
For anybody interested in the high-risk world of dedicated (and very brave) armed officers, this book is well worth reading.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
Really good book, informative and well worth a read. Bought it for a dissertation at school and is really useful.
Published 16 months ago by Nath
Fantastic read
I read this book over two days, I literally couldn't put it down. It is well written, combining well researched facts and history of the police use of firearms and the units... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Niall B
Review of xmas present for Steve
This was a Christmas present so I only have the fact that the recipient started reading it as soon as he unwrapped it to assess that it is a good buy!
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Brian
Thoroughly brilliant
I bought this book a short while ago and I could not put this book down. This was a thoroughly excellent book which was well written and completely different to what I expected,... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2009 by Blue Dragon
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
