This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40252299
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Devon and Cornwall police chief in armed civilians row | Devon and Cornwall police chief in armed civilians row |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A police chief who said she would consider letting gun owners act as armed civilians in the event of a terror attack has found herself at odds with her own force. | A police chief who said she would consider letting gun owners act as armed civilians in the event of a terror attack has found herself at odds with her own force. |
| During a radio phone-in, Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez said she would "really be interested" in the idea. | During a radio phone-in, Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez said she would "really be interested" in the idea. |
| The force said armed civilians could risk being shot by officers. | The force said armed civilians could risk being shot by officers. |
| Ms Hernandez has since said she was not advocating use of guns by the public. | |
| Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton said it was "definitely an emphatic 'no'" that people should be arming themselves against such a threat. | Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton said it was "definitely an emphatic 'no'" that people should be arming themselves against such a threat. |
| Conservative Ms Hernandez has since said her comments on Monday were "misinterpreted". | |
| More on the armed civilians row, and other Devon and Cornwall news | More on the armed civilians row, and other Devon and Cornwall news |
| 'Marauding gunman' | 'Marauding gunman' |
| She was elected as PCC, a role designed to hold the chief constable and force to account, in May 2016. | |
| Her comments were made as she responded to a caller named Sara, who said she was an "ex-registered firearms dealer" and gun owner living in Bude. | |
| She asked: "If there should ever be a terrorist attack close to the town centre... what happens if people like I and others try to defend themselves using those guns?" | She asked: "If there should ever be a terrorist attack close to the town centre... what happens if people like I and others try to defend themselves using those guns?" |
| Gun ownership | |
| Dyfed-Powys has the highest rate of gun ownership in England and Wales, with a total of 9,126 per 100,000 people. | |
| Devon and Cornwall comes 10th overall out of the 43 police force areas with a total of just under 6,000 guns per 100,000 residents. | |
| London has the lowest rate of ownership per head of population with 789 guns per 100,000 people. | |
| Ms Hernandez replied: "This could be some of our solution..." before being interrupted by presenter Laurence Reed, challenging her on whether she was advocating vigilantes. | Ms Hernandez replied: "This could be some of our solution..." before being interrupted by presenter Laurence Reed, challenging her on whether she was advocating vigilantes. |
| She responded "I'm just saying... let's officially have a look at that and see what would be the implications of it. | She responded "I'm just saying... let's officially have a look at that and see what would be the implications of it. |
| "We work with businesses to keep our communities safe. I'd really be interested in exploring that with the chief constable. | "We work with businesses to keep our communities safe. I'd really be interested in exploring that with the chief constable. |
| "If your community was coming under attack, people would do all sorts of things to try to save their community without even thinking. | "If your community was coming under attack, people would do all sorts of things to try to save their community without even thinking. |
| "People will do incredible things without thinking to protect themselves and the community around them." | "People will do incredible things without thinking to protect themselves and the community around them." |
| After the phone-in, Ms Hernandez told the BBC: "I think everybody should be thinking about what part they can play in a terror attack." | After the phone-in, Ms Hernandez told the BBC: "I think everybody should be thinking about what part they can play in a terror attack." |
| In a further statement released on Tuesday, she said: "For a more comprehensive answer than I was able to give at the time, I suggested that the caller should write to me personally so that I could meet with the chief constable and provide a detailed reply." | |
| "To be clear, I am not advocating the use of firearms or other weapons by members of the public in the event of a terrorist incident," she added. | |
| Philippa Davey, who stood as Labour's parliamentary candidate for south west Devon, called for Ms Hernandez to stand down. | Philippa Davey, who stood as Labour's parliamentary candidate for south west Devon, called for Ms Hernandez to stand down. |
| She tweeted that the PCC had made the news "for all the wrong reasons". | She tweeted that the PCC had made the news "for all the wrong reasons". |
| However, DCC Netherton said: "A marauding gunman... is probably the most challenging situation the police service is facing and our response to that is by highly professional officers as well as firearms officers and special forces and we would not want to public to be involved in that situation, especially with firearms. | However, DCC Netherton said: "A marauding gunman... is probably the most challenging situation the police service is facing and our response to that is by highly professional officers as well as firearms officers and special forces and we would not want to public to be involved in that situation, especially with firearms. |
| "As was seen in London, we responded immediately and we don't have time to find out if you're an innocent member of the public or a terrorist. | "As was seen in London, we responded immediately and we don't have time to find out if you're an innocent member of the public or a terrorist. |
| "If you're carrying a gun we will deal with you and deal with you immediately." | "If you're carrying a gun we will deal with you and deal with you immediately." |
| He urged anyone caught up in a terrorist attack instead to "run, hide and inform us". | He urged anyone caught up in a terrorist attack instead to "run, hide and inform us". |