9 in 10 police staff back blanket Taser carrying policy

NINE out of 10 police officers want to see all frontline colleagues in their force carrying Tasers while on patrol, a survey has found.

A poll by West Yorkshire Police Federation showed 90 per cent of officers in the force wanted the equipment for all frontline colleagues, while a separate survey found 86 per cent of members of the public agreed.

It represents a marked rise since a similar survey from the Metropolitan Police Federation earlier this year, which found that 75 per cent wanted to see all officers issued with the stun guns.

Nick Smart, the chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said the poll was the first to be carried out since the three deadly terrorist attacks in the UK this year.

He said: “It is apparent that an overwhelming majority of police officers and the public we serve believe police officers should be routinely carrying a Taser when on patrol.”