Police with Tasers to double
GMP is to double the number of officers trained to use Tasers following the terror attacks in Manchester and London.
They plan to spend £1m to buy equipment and train 1,100 officers to use them.
The decision is a direct result of the suicide bomb attack on Manchester Arena, which killed 22 people in May and the London Bridge attack last month in which eight people were murdered.
GMP bosses insist the decision ‘was not taken lightly’.
Each officer selected to undergo training will go through a rigorous assessment process, in line with national guidelines, to ensure that they are suitable to carry a Taser.
Bosses say an officer merely holding a Taser is often enough to diffuse a dangerous situation. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “The threat level we are facing is significant as we have seen from recent atrocities in our city and in the capital. We have seen attacks targeting innocent people in crowded places using knives, causing death and serious injury.
“I believe it is necessary to increase the number of speciallytrained officers authorised to carry Tasers. This is necessary in order to better protect the people of Greater Manchester and the officers of GMP.
“Keeping our communities safe is our number one priority and this uplift will allow us to better equip officers to respond to the increasing threat of terrorism and serious crime.
“We have received unilateral support from both for the decision to better protect the public and officers. The deputy mayor has authorised the capital expenditure of £1m to allow me to take this decision.”
Beverley Hughes, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Following the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London, we have to ensure that the police have the equipment they need to deal effectively with potentially serious incidents.
“One aspect of this is increasing the number of officers trained to carry Tasers, which will ensure the people of Greater Manchester are better protected, as well as police officers themselves.”