§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable of Lancashire on who authorises the arming of a policeman in the Lancashire Constabulary; and how many of that force are armed at the present time.
§ Mr. CarlisleThese are matters for the chief constable, who tells me that his authority or that of his deputy or of an assistant chief constable is required for the issue of a firearm to a member of the Lancashire Constabulary, and that254W firearms are issued only when a police officer might have to face an armed and dangerous person or, on a limited scale, when they are needed for protection purposes.