A RUC personal protection leaflet, poster and firearm issued to the RUC in the early 1970s. In December 1969, there was a coup in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) which split the organisation into two factions; the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA (PIRA). The PIRA bought guns and explosives and launched a violent campaign against the security forces in Northern Ireland. On the 12 August 1970, the PIRA placed a booby trap bomb inside a car in the countryside near Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh. The bomb exploded killing two RUC men. Constables Samuel Donaldson and Robert Millar became the first two fatalities of the PIRA campaign. After further attacks on unarmed members of the RUC, officers were given access to weapons at police stations. In early 1971, two policemen were shot dead on patrol during a period of intensive rioting in Belfast. The chief constable withdrew all unarmed units in Belfast and issued revolvers to RUC men going out on patrol. After further attacks were directed at the police, flak jackets were distributed to officers and protective panels fitted to cars and Land Rovers.

Seven RUC men were killed in shootings and bomb attacks in the three months following the introduction of internment in 1971. Sidearms were issued to male officers for their personal protection on and off duty and additional weapons were distributed to stations. In January 1972, Reserve Constable Raymond Denham was shot dead at his civilian work. He is the first RUC Reserve to be killed. Members of the reserve were given firearm certificates for personal protection weapons. Personal protection leaflets were distributed, cautioning RUC members to be vigilant on and off duty, to vary their routes to and from work and to check under their cars for booby traps. After car bombs caused further security force deaths, posters warning of the dangers of booby-trapped cars were distributed to RUC stations.