New Pcs need Tasers to tackle rising violence, say police chiefs
POLICE recruits should be allowed to carry Tasers because of rising levels of violence, chief constables have said.
Currently officers in their first two years of service cannot be equipped with the weapons.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced yesterday that it was supporting proposals for selected “probationers” to be permitted to carry Tasers after completing a rigorous application and training process.
Senior officers believe the option should be available based on local assessments of threat and risk. They are discussing the move with the Home Office, which will have the final say.
Dept Asst Commissioner Lucy D’orsi, the national policing lead for “less lethal” weapons, said: “Probationers are posted to the front line and they respond to the same calls as other colleagues. These calls range from dealing with vulnerable people in need of help to incidents of violence. We want to ensure that they have the right equipment to keep themselves, suspects and members of the public safe. As part of this, we want to give forces the opportunity to train their probationary officers to carry Taser.”
She said that at present, suitability to carry Tasers was determined by an officer’s length of service rather than their role or the skills they have.
Ms D’orsi continued: “The diversity of our workforce has changed considerably and many of our probationers have professional and life skills from before they started their police career that demonstrates their capability and ability to carry Taser.”
The possibility of expanding the pool of staff eligible for Taser training was mooted last year as police leaders launched a review to examine what further measures may be needed to ensure officers can protect themselves and the public when faced with armed terrorists.
Pc Keith Palmer was stabbed to death in the Westminster attack, while an officer was hurt when he confronted the London Bridge terror gang with a baton. In both cases the attackers were ultimately shot dead by armed police.
Police chiefs are also planning to examine the possibility of training special constables to carry Tasers.
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