RESULTS from a recent survey examining public views on Dyfed-Powys Police officers carrying guns many have been "skewed" after it was posted on a social media site, it has been revealed.

The online poll, carried out by Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon, sought public opinion on whether specially-trained firearms officers should carry their weapons when on other duties.

The survey, which ran between April 13 and May 15, showed that 56 per cent of respondents were in favour of those officers carrying weapons while on "routine duties", however, the validity of the results has been called into question after it emerged that the Yes vote spiked on April 27 after it was shared by One Police UK's Facebook page, a site set up following the death of two police officers in Manchester.

An analysis of survey responses showed that on every other day, the No vote was greater than the Yes vote.

A spokesman for the commissioner that once potential duplicate entries had been removed, the survey had received a total of 6025, more than 2,500 of which came on the day it appeared on the One Police UK site.

The site has 34,000 likes - the number of people who support the site or visit it regularly.

In all, 56 per cent - 3,385 - of respondents agreed that firearms officers should carry their weapons while conducting routine duties while 2,640 said they should not.

Evidence from the questionnaire also revealed that the majority of the public were confused about the firearms policy.

As a result, Mr Salmon has instructed ask Chief Constable Simon Prince to explain the firearms policy in more detail.

Mr Salmon said: "It is right that the public understand police policy.

“There’s huge public interest in the deployment of firearms officers as my survey on the matter has just revealed.

“While surveys like this are limited in what they can tell us, there is clearly need for greater public consultation on such policies in future.”

Dyfed-Powys Police has 74 specially-trained firearms officers who respond to incidents where the risks suggest a need for firearms.

When not responding they conduct routine patrols, keeping pistols in holsters. The Chief Constable makes day-to-day decisions on their deployment.