Why were the British police who ran alongside the Olympic Torch, armed?

Question

Why were the British police who ran alongside the Olympic Torch, armed?

Answer 1

If they didn't have arms, they would have been accompanying the paralympic torch instead.

Answer 2

I never noticed they were armed either (aside from the stuff they always carry), I don't believe you.



Show me a picture.

#Edit# I've now watched 3 videos, no sign of a single weapon aside from their night stick baton things.

Answer 3

Luckily our police ain't usually armed. I mean with guns. Even our police need batons/truncheons .You can bet they had some armed back u close by . Though this is more due to the terrorist threat than the Tibet protests.

Answer 4

to kill people that got in their way or threatened violence (well maybe not kill them but threaten at least) wow, i never knew the british police were well enough to run alongside in the olympics!!

Answer 5

You should be asking the question why was the Chinese Security services were allowed to run along side the Olympic flame, disguised as athletes, those blokes in blue tracksuits should never have been there and as to the British Police, they were obviously expecting trouble and many are armed now at any rate.

Answer 6

in case the chinese special services running next to them decided to go all himalaya on our arses

i hope

Answer 7

All british police are armed when out on the streets. It's part of Britain like Munich is part of Germany.

Answer 8

Well i guess they were expecting the protests and weren't giving away any chances of something more violent to happen

Answer 9

Because you never know when you will see a Brazilian illegal immigrant running for a train.

Answer 10

Because along the olympic ******* trot route there was an ever so slightly overflowing (4 inches) wheelie bin in the same street, and the armed cops were looking for the owner.

Answer 11

coz it was raining and cold

Answer 12

The British have learned a lot over the years. But the last lesson they learnt was July 7, 2005, when the subways were bombed. They are not keen to give someone another chance.

Answer 13

To act as a deterrent to would be torch thieves.

Answer 14

Are you sure they were? I must have missed that...