MovieChat Forums > Death in Paradise (2011) Discussion > Do they have guns?

Do they have guns?

posted 9 years ago by gundlachba1
8 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching episode 4.6, where Humphrey comically reaches for a few items on his desk in an attempt to find a suitable weapon after he hears a sound coming from the holding cells in the police station. Obviously, in real life, a police officer would have gone for his gun if he had one, which generally all police officers do at all times. Even if Humphrey didn't have one because he was a DI rather than an officer, it would seem absolutely absurd for any law enforcement person to not have at least a taser, a can of mace, or a baton. Then I realized that, unlike virtually every other cop show, in this one I can't think of any of the officers showing a weapon at all. From the looks of it, Dwayne and the other officers wear a police belt, but the only things on it are walkie-talkies and the handcuff pouch. Without any arms, it does seem that this police force would be quite inept at controlling any crime on the island.

[–] morn1960 9 years ago

British police personal do not carry firearms, the island is part of the UK officially so the officers don't have guns. Not every culture thinks giving police weapons that kill is a good idea. Unfortunately we in the USA arm our officers to the teeth and that is why do many unarmed people are killed by police.

[–] terminator-100 8 years ago

There have been a few scenes where the two uniformed officers have turned up armed at a crime scene, but generally they are not armed. I don't know, maybe it's meant to be a throwback to when the island was a Département of France that they sometimes turn up armed, although the Police Municipale usually are not routinely armed on mainland France; this probably extends to the Départements like Guadeloupe, Martinique et al, but I can't be certain.

To be honest, there are quite a number of political and visual fallacies, inconsistencies and the like in the series - the island is meant to be a Département turned British Overseas Territory, yet they still have the France - style uniforms with the Tricouleur badges, just with UK - type badges on their caps, like some sort of weird mélange. That's before we even get to the matter of how realistic the concept is (or rather isn't) of a French territory being turned over to the UK. There's no way France would let, say, Guadeloupe or Martinique become a British territory.

[–] raf-33 8 years ago

Obviously, in real life, a police officer would have gone for his gun if he had one, which generally all police officers do at all times.

No, they don't. You are making an assumption, in practically every developed nation police officer's do not carry guns because killing people is not what they are tasked to do. Only cops in lawless and 3rd world nations carry guns, or those nations stupid enough to let their citizens arm themselves so they can kill when the day isn't going their way.

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. -Isaac Asimov

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 8 years ago

You are making an assumption, in practically every developed nation police officer's do not carry guns because killing people is not what they are tasked to do.

I think it's you who is making an assumption. In pretty much every developed nation on earth police do carry guns, except Britain, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand. And Britain's police are certainly changing. Armed police are becoming much more the norm.

Only cops in lawless and 3rd world nations carry guns, or those nations stupid enough to let their citizens arm themselves so they can kill when the day isn't going their way.

Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Belgium and Australia (just to name a few) are third world nations? I didn't know.
Also, it is not half as difficult as you think for private citizens to own guns in these countries.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

[–] colinfpowell 8 years ago

The British Police themselves are resisting being armed, and you will once see armed police near high profile targets, not in the street. As Honoré is not considered a high profile target then no Policeman would be armed.

And yes, I would consider Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Belgium and Australia (just to name a few) to be third world nations, for having armed police. If the only way to make the citizens of a country to behave is to threaten them with guns, then that is 3rd world.

[–] Jessica_Rabbit69 8 years ago

And yes, I would consider Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Belgium and Australia (just to name a few) to be third world nations, for having armed police

Thanks for the best laugh of the day. I love it. Do you really think it's to "make citizens behave"? Funny.

Jessica Rabbit
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

[–] corek-83089 8 years ago

I'm glad you recognised my sarcasm, which some seem to take as my real thoughts. Because of the problems I have had in the past with signing on to IMDB, I seem to have a number of IMDB sign ons.

[–] liscarkat (19445) 4 years ago

There are individual criminals and organizations of criminals who carry guns and are not shy about using them. Without guns, the police would have no way of prevailing over such miscreants. Police should be armed with guns; however, hiring and training of police should be designed to weed out bullies, the stupid, and psychopaths.