MP and Pc makes loaded gun arrest

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A Conservative MP who is also a special constable found a loaded gun on a man he arrested in London, it has emerged.

Monmouth's David Davies was on only his third patrol when he and a colleague saw the man acting suspiciously.

When they arrested him for travel fraud near London Bridge, Mr Davies, 36, searched him and found the handgun.

"This shows what being a police officer is about in today's Britain," said Mr Davies. "You have no idea what you are going to have to deal with next."

Mr Davies, who has just stepped down from his other role as Welsh assembly member for Monmouth, was on patrol on 14 March when he and his colleague made the arrest.

When I found the weapon, the words of my instructor rang in my ears and I immediately put it down and warned my colleague by shouting 'gun' David Davies MP

As Mr Davies searched the suspect, he found the firearm and, following his training, shouted "gun" to alert his colleague.

A police spokesman said the suspect and weapon were quickly secured and taken into custody.

Once there, a search of the man's bag revealed a taser stun gun and a later search of his house unearthed a third gun.

Mr Davies, a father-of-two, was sworn in as a special constable in March.

"When I found the weapon, the words of my instructor rang in my ears and I immediately put it down and warned my colleague by shouting 'gun'," he explained.

Parliamentary scheme

Mr Davies is a fierce critic on some areas of Labour policy covering crime, including the policy of housing sex offenders at Prescoed open jail, which is in his Monmouth constituency.

The MP was recruited to the police via a parliamentary scheme. He has joined a force of about 260 special constables in British Transport Police who are expected to volunteer for a minimum of four hours a week, averaged out over a year.

"The hours I can put in as a special are, I am sure, going to be of immense value to me," he said.

"They will give me front line experience that I can bring back to the House of Commons to help inform our debates on issues around crime and disorder."

Mr Davies first came to prominence as a member of the first Welsh assembly in 1999. He also became Monmouth MP in 2005 and remained as an AM until stepping down at this month's election, when his seat was won by fellow Tory Nick Ramsay.