Let's see, to turn a country into a police state you:
First take away all the legally owned firearms
Second wait for violent crime to increase as criminals prey on unarmed subjects
Third, get rid of pesky civil rights like trial by jury and allow seizure of all assests before guilt is proven, you know all in the name of safety.
Fourth, arm every police officer with high power assault rifles and armor peircing ammuntion, because the crime rate is so high it justifies it.
Fifth, conducts raids against everyone that disagrees with what the government says and while kicking in the door announce, "We are the government and we are here to help".
That about covers it. Englands been taking stricter action about ever two months now. I wonder if the gangs won't start sniping the police in order to get their new high power weapons and bullets? I'm sure glad I don't live there.