This book challenges what are, for many people, deep-rooted expectations regarding the routine arming of police and compares jurisdictions in which police are routinely armed (Toronto, Canada and Brisbane, Australia) and those where police are not routinely armed (Manchester, England and Auckland, New Zealand). With a focus on Western jurisdictions and by examining a range of documentary, media and data sources, this book provides an evidence-based examination of the question: Do police really need guns?

This book first provides detailed insight into the armed policing tradition and perceptions/expectations with respect to police and firearms. A range of theoretical concepts regarding policing, state power and the use of force is applied to an examination of what makes the police powerful. This is set against the minimum force tradition, which is typified by policing in England and Wales. Consideration is also given to the role played by key tropes and constructs of popular culture. Drawing on Surettes model of symbolic reality, the book considers contrasting media traditions and the positioning of firearms within narrative arcs, especially the role of heroes. The book concludes by drawing together the key themes and findings, and considering the viability of retaining and/or moving towards non-routinely armed police.

Dr. Richard Evansis a Lecturer in criminology at Deakin University. Richard is the author of four books including Disasters that Changed Australia (MUP 2009) and The Pyjama Girl Mystery (Scribe 2004). A former journalist, his teaching and research interests include drugs and crime, disasters, surveillance, policing, and miscarriages of justice. He believes that criminology can and should help build a more just society.Dr. Clare Farmerhas been a member of the Deakin Criminology team since 2010. Her research interests include the challenge of balancing the competing needs of offenders, victims and the wider community within/across the criminal justice system; responses to anti-social behaviour; police powers; human rights; young offenders; and sentencing principles and practices. Clares Ph.D. examined the growth of discretionary police powers in Victoria: their rationale, scrutiny and the consequences for due process and individual rights.

Chapter 1 The edge of the knife: force, the state and police power.- Chapter 2 Friendly persuasion: The minimum force tradition.- Chapter 3 As well armed as the criminal: the armed tradition.- Chapter 4 Is the community safer if police are routinely armed?.- Chapter 5 Are police safer if they are routinely armed?.- Chapter 6 The Devils Right Hand: the place of guns in culture.- Chapter 7 The impossible dream? Towards minimum-force policing.