I remember being taught in school that with rare exception, Bobbies carried no firearms; just batons and whistles. Back then, they could only call out, "Stop, or I'll toot!"

A friend told me that in the 80's they were frequently demonstrating their skills with batons and fists. (He was a hard-drinking Scotsman, so his encounters may have been more colourful than most.)

That's scary. I was once detained for suspicion of being suspicious.