Force slams ‘Armed and Deadly’ title of TV show

CHANNEL 5 has come under fire from police for the controversial title it has given a fly-on-the-wall documentary featuring the West Midlands firearms unit.

West Midlands Police officers described the title,

as “shocking ” ahead of this week’s episode.

Over four weeks the show will examine a number of high-profile operations and questions the behaviour of the police.

It includes incidents involving firearms officers from West Midlands Police, including the moment police were faced by a man brandishing two knives. Bodycam footage showed the man marching towards the firearms officers with knives in each hand before they were forced to use tasers.

But the region’s armed officers themselves are unhappy with the branding of the show.

A tweet from West Midlands Police Firearms Operations read: “A shocking title for a programme, and not something that can simply be put aside.”

One critic, describing himself as deputy director of a police research operation, asked: “Why is it called that?”

Another suggested: “Should be called ‘improvise, adapt and overcome’ or ‘first in’ not Armed and Deadly. Totally misses the point of what armed response units are there for.”