Tinks I totally agree with the points you make regarding the current stresses we face.
However what I wanted people to consider is that the level to which we arm our police force only reflect back at us how stressful that is, but the police cannot change it. It is actually us who can by either our actions on a local and community level and on a greater scale by changing our politicians (who I think are currently self serving charlatans irrespective of which ever party they are in).
Personally I want to see a “No Vote” option on all ballot papers in order that it is clear how disillusioned we are with them and it is not that we are apathetic about politics. Mind you politicians probably wouldn’t wouldn’t approve my preferred phrase of ” None of the above deserve my vote”