Perhaps this is the crux of the problem for UK Police Air Units....
You are not expecting or fully equipped to deal with weapon carrying criminals. If they need to sit with body armour/taser/CS all at the ready then lets give them the kit or up the local manning levels to support the requirement. I would not want to face petrol bombs and axes armed with a set of Flight reference Cards and a chinagraph!!
The Bad Guys are armed.....the Police not!
The counter argument is if the Police are armed....the criminals will arrive better armed....I guess.
Remington 870 Shotguns with 00 Buckshot and Large Caliber Pistols work a treat on axe and petrol bomb wielding criminals...they will lay right down and wait for the handcuffs and rights warning after getting dusted with the buckshot.