THE head of Surrey police's rank and file officers says he is opposed to the routine arming of police, echoing the feelings of 78 per cent of officers polled in a national survey.
John Miskelly, chairman of the Surrey Police Federation, declined the invitation from the national federation for his members to be polled, feeling it "wasn't right for federation officers to vote".
But like the majority of those surveyed, Mr Miskelly is against more officers carrying guns.
"The routine arming of police officers isn't something I want to see," he told The Herald.
"Our policing is unique in this country in that it is policing by consent, and I'm not sure the public would want to see police armed.
"What we would want is sufficient numbers of armed officers to support regular uniformed officers."
The survey results, released at the Police Federation conference in Blackpool this week, show 78 per cent were against routine arming, down just one per cent on the last survey in 1995, despite gun crime rising by a third last year.
The survey comes after a police union raised concerns over a drop in the number of officers trained to use firearms, from 6,500 five years ago to 5,700.
Asked about the situation in Surrey, Mr Miskelly, who regularly briefs officers training to handle firearms, said: "We're up to strength but it's something we always keep an eye on because it's a very demanding role.
"The officers put themselves in danger and if they fire a shot, the media and the world and his wife wants to know why."
Mr Miskelly said he was surprised by the result of the poll given that it was conducted during the war on Iraq when there were more armed police patrolling sensitive locations.
"I think that shows the strength of feeling," he said.