Brian and Margaret Goodman, whose son Glenn was killed on the A64 at Tadcaster by an IRA gunman in June 1992 have joined a campaign to arm officers on patrol. His patrol partner PC Sandy Kelly was badly injured.

The Goodman family have lined-up with the police officers' organisation Protect the Protectors which is writing to every chief constable and the Police Federation to press for a ballot of officers on the guns issue.

Mr Goodman said the police were "inadequately protected" and added: "Had our son and PC Kelly been issued with more than a small wooden truncheon to protect themselves against terrorists armed with Kalashnikov rifles they may have had a chance to defend themselves.

"The majority of officers still face the threat that our son did.

"The only slight improvement is the introduction of the new baton and snap-on handcuffs."

"These are no deterrent against guns."