Some Thames Valley Police officers have said they would rather resign than carry a gun, new research has found.
The Police Federation survey also revealed that 70 per cent of officers in the Thames Valley region were opposed to the idea of being kitted out with a firearm.
Insp Martin Elliott, chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation, said: "Nearly 15 per cent said they never wanted to carry a firearm, even if ordered to do so.
"It is an indication of the effectiveness of the armed response unit and recognition that it is a specialist operation to use and fire a gun."
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