yes there are armed response units in England. They are highly trained two man teams who have served at least seven years as regular unarmed bobbies and then undergo a year at least of specialist training. Every bullet has to be accounted for, indeed every time a gun is pointed at ANYONE has to be accounted for. Very different from every bobby on the beat 'packing heat'. I wouldn't like to live in a country where the police patrol the streets with loaded guns, well scary. At least the criminals only shoot at each other.