I've just seen with my own eyes Jeremy Corbyn say he would not be happy with police applying a

[Monty91]

shoot -to-kill policy in the event of a terrorist attack in Britain :-O

['Neg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuLWgVOLbG4

[redgunamo]

Even if he became PM, such a policy would've pre-dated him taking office, in any case.

[Monty91]

policing. Still ok?

[redgunamo]

But again, as Prime Minister, for example, he will be responsible for government policy, which may be a different matter entirely.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

didn't they?

[barrybueno]

I'd be more than happy for the old bill to do that again.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

[Berni]

As opposed to 'shoot to inconvenience', perhaps?

[redgunamo]

This flexibility is seen in the fact that the term may refer to anything from the mere use of a firearm or other means or weapon in order to protect the public and/or the police from possible serious harm in the first place (shoot to inconvenience, as you say), all the way through to a full Baby Face Nelson.

I suspect he really means shoot first, question later; police officers loosing off shots at random civilians they simply don't like the look of. But, as you know, the term he chose is a more emotive one politically, since the Troubles.

As you say, essentially meaningless.