£10m plan to arm 10,000 frontline police with stun guns
North West: Mostly cloudy with the chance of showers, heavy for a time. Fresh westerly winds. High 16C (61F).
Northern Ireland: It will be unsettled with rain or showers for much of the day. Gentle westerly winds. High 16C (61F).
Wales: Sunny intervals and showers, some heavy. Rain in the evening. Brisk southwesterly winds. High 17C (63F).
Midlands: Scattered showers are expected, especially after noon. Fresh south-westerly winds. High 18C (64F).
North East/Yorks: It will be bright with sunshine and showers, heavy for a time. Moderate westerly winds. High 18C (64F).
Scotland: Mostly cloudy with a few bright spells and scattered showers. Gentle westerly winds. High 17C (63F).
UK OUTLOOK TOMORROW: A wet morning in England and Wales. Bright with showers in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Sunny intervals and showers for all areas after noon. East Anglia: Sunny intervals. Cloudy later with a chance of showers. Fresh southwesterly winds. High 19C (66F).
London/South East: Blustery showers are expected, especially in the afternoon. Strong south-westerly winds. High 19C (66F).
South: A largely dry morning but light rain is expected after midday. Fresh southwesterly winds. High 18C (64F).
South West: Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of heavy rain after noon. Strong southwesterly winds. High 18C (64F).
Channel Isles: Sunny spells for a while. Possibly a few spots of rain later. Strong westerly winds. High 18C (64F).
Sea: North Sea: Moderate. Irish Sea: Rough. Channel: Rough. THE NUMBER of police carrying Tasers could soar in a £10million government funding boost designed to crack down on violent attacks.
More than 10,000 officers would carry the 50,000-volt stun guns under the plan.
It is a victory for a Daily Express campaign for more Taser-trained police following the killing of PC Andrew Harper and rising attacks on officers.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is set to unveil the plan at next week’s Conservative Party conference, said: “I’ve been completely appalled by the recent spate of serious assaults on police officers, which is why I’m giving chief constables the resources to dramatically increase the number of their officers who carry Tasers.”
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation,which campaigned for the funding, said: “Officers are telling me daily they are feeling vulnerable and often isolated due to the lack of this vital protective equipment.
“The Home Secretary has listened and she has acted.”
Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley, revealed he would offer all frontline officers the chance to carry a Taser. He said: “We have to move with the times to combat the threat we face daily.” Wiltshire, Kent, Northamptonshire, Durham and Derbyshire have also said every officer wanting a stun gun could have one.
However, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick recently ruled this out, judging it was not “practicable or necessary”.
A Police Federation poll found more than eight in 10 officers wanted stun guns and would feel safer with them.
Latest figures show 10,399 were injured on duty last year – up 32 per cent from 7,903 in 2015/16.
PC Andrew Harper, 28, was killed after being dragged under a van while responding to a burglary in Berkshire in August.