After moving to Germany, it took me years to get used to the gun-toting police here. I found it extremely intimidating at first, and it still bothers me.

 I want to respect a policeman because of the authority that goes with his job, not because of the threat, displayed on his hip, to maim or kill me. Although I'm pleased to say that I have generally found the German police to be every bit as nice as English bobbies, I just wish they didn't have to carry guns.

 Every now and again somebody tragically and quite unnecessarily gets killed as a result.

 Having an unarmed police forces is something that the British can feel rightly proud of and thankful for. It would be a very sad day indeed if that were to change.