Patel will let special constables carry Tasers
Police chief says volunteers ‘carry all the powers of their regular colleagues and deserve same protection’
‘They fulfil forwardfacing duties often in a conflict environment. So why should they not have access to Tasers?’
‘Human rights are not just for criminals, but the law-abiding majority. And that means standing squarely with the police’
SPECIAL constables are to be allowed to carry Tasers, Priti Patel will say today.
Volunteer police officers will be authorised for the first time to bear the weapons, which fire two small barbed darts that dispense a charge of 50,000 volts, if chief constables authorise it.
Forces including Kent, British Transport Police (BTP), Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire are understood to have already sanctioned Taser training for specials in anticipation of the decision or because they planned to join as full-time officers.
The move follows controversy over Tasers after the Independent Office of Police Conduct criticised their “unsafe and disproportionate” use against black people, prompting chief constables to accuse the watchdog of vague, outdated and unsubstantiated claims.
The number of Taser deployments have doubled in the past four years, from 16,900 to 34,400 after the Home Secretary announced a £10million fund to increase the number of officers trained to carry the weapons. At least seven of 43 forces now offer all frontline officers Tasers if they want them.
At the Police Federation’s annual conference today, the Home Secretary will say: “The leaders I admire stood up for law and order. Human rights are not just for criminals, but the law-abiding majority. And that means standing squarely with the police.”
Ahead of a Cabinet today that will focus on crime, Boris Johnson will hail it as the latest example of the Government ensuring police have the “tools, power and resources they need to keep us safe and protect themselves”.
Although, he will acknowledge there is “more to do” on crime.
There are nearly 9,000 special constables, down from a peak of 20,000 in 2012. In a survey by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) four in five said they wanted to carry Tasers.
David Pedrick-friend, the chairman of the Association of Special Constables, said: “Special constables carry all of the powers, rights and entitlements of a constable and are mostly on duty at peak times on Friday and Saturday.
“They predominantly fulfil forwardfacing duties often in a conflict environment and they deserve the same protections as their regular colleagues.
“So why should they not have access to Tasers?”
Mr Pedrick-friend admitted there would be some negativity from other officers. “There will always be cultural resistance. You will have older 30-yearers saying: ‘In my day, we only gave them a cape and wooden stick and they looked after fetes.’
“But most regular officers that work at these peak times would welcome support from colleagues as they do now.” Specials will undergo the same training as other police officers. They will, however, first be expected to have completed two years’ service, including 200 hours of duty after achieving their initial “directed patrol status”.
It also follows a new police act that allows specials to join the Police Federation, which provides specialist legal protection beyond what a volunteer civilian could get.
Home Office sources said Taser deployments were primarily a deterrent, with only one in 10 resulting in the darts being fired.
Ms Patel will warn the Police Federation conference that officers must “blow the whistle” on misconduct and corruption to help create a “better culture and higher standards” in the police.
“The whole country was shaken and horrified by Sarah Everard’s abduction, rape, and murder by a serving officer. This horrendous case – and other revelations – have undermined confidence in the police. The public are in urgent need of reassurance,” she will say.
“I am unequivocal that unacceptable behaviour must be rooted [out].”