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'Tasers for all front-line officers' - Police Federation 'Tasers for all front-line officers' - Police Federation
(about 5 hours later)
All front-line police officers should be offered a Taser in light of the increased terrorism threat, the head of the Police Federation says. All front-line police in England and Wales should be offered Tasers in light of the increased terrorism threat, the head of the Police Federation says.
Steve White said it would help protect against "dangerous people" who could be "preparing to attack police officers". Steve White said the devices would help protect against "dangerous people" who could be preparing to attack officers.
He told The Guardian that every police officer was a potential target. He told The Guardian that terrorists seeking to attract attention could attack at any time, anywhere in the UK.
The federation is to vote on the proposal, that every uniformed frontline officer should be offered Taser training, next month. The federation is to vote on the proposal to offer all frontline officers Taser training next month.
Some officers may choose not to carry one.Some officers may choose not to carry one.
'Respond to threat''Respond to threat'
Mr White said: "The terrorist ideal to get attention no longer relies on an attack being in a place of note. Mr White, the body's chairman, told the newspaper: "The terrorist ideal to get attention no longer relies on an attack being in a place of note.
"It could be in Cheam high street, in any town, in any part of the UK."It could be in Cheam high street, in any town, in any part of the UK.
"We know there are more dangerous people out there, preparing to attack police officers and we need to be able to respond to that threat.""We know there are more dangerous people out there, preparing to attack police officers and we need to be able to respond to that threat."
He made a similar call when vice-chair of the federation, following the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. And he told Radio 4's Today programme: "We've got to show our officers that we're taking the threat seriously.
Referring to the soldier's death again, Mr White told the newspaper: "As (the) Lee Rigby (murder) demonstrated, you don't need to have a gun to create terrorism. "We've got to make sure that we give them every opportunity to respond to the threat.
"It is a defensive tool and a tactical option. We have a largely unarmed service and the service wants that to remain. "Because it's not just their personal safety, it's the safety of the public as well."
"The alternative is to have officers out there without anything at all. We have to do something. 'Less than lethal'
"The sector threat (to police) has gone up by two levels and we need to make sure everything is done to protect officers who protect the public." He told the programme he was making the call after seeing the "usefulness" of tasers.
'Use sparingly' He said the weapons had shown they could help keep officers and the public safe.
Mr White made a similar call when vice-chair of the federation, following the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby.
Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003 as a non-lethal alternative for firearms officers facing potentially dangerous suspects.Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003 as a non-lethal alternative for firearms officers facing potentially dangerous suspects.
Officers are required to take a training course before being allowed to use a Taser and they are told only to deploy them when threatened with violence.Officers are required to take a training course before being allowed to use a Taser and they are told only to deploy them when threatened with violence.
'Use sparingly'
In 2013, Tasers were deployed 10,380 times across England and Wales and there were 154 complaints about their use.In 2013, Tasers were deployed 10,380 times across England and Wales and there were 154 complaints about their use.
There have been a number of deaths related to the use of the stun guns.There have been a number of deaths related to the use of the stun guns.
Amnesty International UK's arms programme director Oliver Sprague told the Guardian: "We've always said that Tasers can have a part to play in policing operations where there's a clear risk of death or serious injury to police officers or members of the public - but Tasers should be used sparingly and only by highly-trained officers."Amnesty International UK's arms programme director Oliver Sprague told the Guardian: "We've always said that Tasers can have a part to play in policing operations where there's a clear risk of death or serious injury to police officers or members of the public - but Tasers should be used sparingly and only by highly-trained officers."
He also queried if there was evidence that a terrorist would be deterred by knowing police officers were armed with Tasers.He also queried if there was evidence that a terrorist would be deterred by knowing police officers were armed with Tasers.