UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT Alistair Darling has confirmed that a capability has been developed to allow the use of specially trained armed police officers on flights by British airlines, as part of an ongoing series of measures to tackle terrorist threats to aircraft. This is the latest of a number of additional measures taken in co-operation with the aviation industry by Government since the 11 September attacks in the USA to further strengthen the UK civil aviation security regime. The Secretary of State noted the Government's acceptance of the recommendations of former MP Sir John Wheeler's review of airport security published at the end of October.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/atoz/airport_security.pdf