FRONTLINE police should be asked if they need more protection in the wake of the tragic deaths of two female officers, said Dorset Police Federation chairman Clive Chamberlain.

He said they should be balloted as to whether or not police should be routinely armed after the women were lured to a fake burglary in Manchester and ambushed with gunshots and a grenade.

“What happened in Manchester was unbelievably awful. It came out of a routine call and they were ambushed,” said Mr Chamberlain, pictured.

“It is my personal opinion that we have not reached the point where officers should be routineley armed. How do you protect people against the spontaneous throwing of a hand grenade?”

But he added: “Frontline officers should be asked because they are the people who find themselves in difficult situations every day. There is always the potential that wherever they go could result in something happening to a police officer.”