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'Tasers for all front-line officers' - Police Federation | 'Tasers for all front-line officers' - Police Federation |
(35 minutes later) | |
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. | 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 the devices would help protect against "dangerous people" who could be preparing to attack officers. | Steve White said the devices would help protect against "dangerous people" who could be preparing to attack officers. |
"We've got to show our officers that we're taking the threat seriously," he told Radio 4's Today. | |
Chief Constables' lead expert on armed policing said extended use of Tasers should be linked to risk assessment. | |
Simon Chesterman, deputy head of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, is the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on armed policing. | |
"I support extended roll out of Taser if; linked to threat and risk assessment, standards not diluted, volunteers only," he tweeted. | |
Mr White 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 to offer all frontline officers Taser training next month. Some officers may choose not to carry one, it says. | |
'Respond to threat' | 'Respond to threat' |
It has been shown that Tasers could keep officers and the public safe, Mr White told Today. | |
And he said police officers should be able to "respond to the current threat environment". | |
"We've got to make sure that we give them every opportunity to respond to the threat," he said. | |
"Because it's not just their personal safety, it's the safety of the public as well." | "Because it's not just their personal safety, it's the safety of the public as well." |
'Less than lethal' | 'Less than lethal' |
He told the programme he was making the call after seeing the "usefulness" of Tasers. | |
Mr White made a similar call when vice-chair of the federation, following the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. | 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' | '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 said: "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. |