Police officers should not be armed while out on the beat, according to the Conservative candidate vying to be Kent’s first police commissioner.

Medway councillor Craig Mackinlay was speaking in the aftermath of the shooting of two police officers in Greater Manchester.

Nicola Hughes, 23 and Fiona Bone, 32, were killed in a gun and grenade attack yesterday.

The incident has sparked a debate about whether officers should be armed.

Some, including the film director Michael Winner and the brother of the police officer shot and blinded by Raoul Moat, have called for it to be considered.

When asked for his thoughts on the issue Cllr Mackinlay was unequivocal.

He said: “What might have killed these poor girls is a grenade. I don’t think a gun would’ve saved them.

“What’s next, are we going to give them grenades? Where are we going to stop?”

Such a move would make community relations with the police even worse, he suggested.

He said: “They shouldn’t be looking like an occupying force, we should be working together.”

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