5:36PM, Tue Sep 18, 2012

Manchester Shootings: PC Rathband's Twin And Son Call For Police To Be Armed

By Ruth Holliday Location: Manchester

Darren Rathband: Calling for all police to be armed

The son and the twin brother of PC David Rathband have both called for British police to be routinely armed after two female officers were shot and killed.

The shootings happened in Hattersley, Greater Manchester, shortly before 11am on Tuesday September 18.

Witnesses reported hearing a hail of bullets and a grenade explosion.

One of the officers died at the scene. The second was critically injured and died later. They have been named as 32-year-old Fiona Bone and 23-year-old Nicola Hughes.

Darren Rathband, formerly of Staffordshire Police and now serving in South Australia, said 21st century policing demands that officers carry weapons.

His brother David was shot, blinded and left for dead by gunman Raoul Moat as he sat unarmed in his patrol car in Newcastle in July 2010.

He was found hanging at his home in Blyth, Northumberland in February 2012.

The scene of the shootings in Hattersley, Greater Manchester

Darren Rathband said: "The events today bring it all back to the front of your mind - not that it is ever far away.

"It is just tragic for the families, the police officers in Manchester and across the country.

"It beggars belief. How many officers need to die before the powers realise that it is the 21st century and you cannot fight crime with an outdated piece of plastic and a bit of spray?

"No job is a routine job and there is always the potential for conflict. We don't go on jobs where people are happy to see us.

"I am angry some other families have now lost a daughter, sister, mother or wife and it makes me angry that the thin blue line is getting thinner and thinner.

"If the public knew how thin that thin blue line was, they would be ashamed."

PC Rathband's son Ash tweeted: "It's time for police to be armed in my opinion. Yet again another awful incident :-( #officerdown"

29-year-old Dale Cregan walked into a police station in Tameside soon after the shootings and was arrested.

Police said the two officers had been called to reports of a burglary at Abbey Gardens in Hattersley, Tameside.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police said: "A long and dark shadow has been cast across Greater Manchester and my thoughts are with the officers' family, friends and colleagues."

Cregan had been the subject of a huge manhunt after the murders of David Short, 46, and his son Mark, 23.

A £50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest.

David Short was killed at his home in Folkestone Road East, Clayton, Manchester, on August 10, while Mark was gunned down at the Cotton Tree pub in nearby Droylsden on May 25.