Lochaber cops armed with Taser stun guns
At least a dozen police officers based in Lochaber have been equipped with Taser stun weapons.
The training of around 500 Specially Trained Officers (STOs) in the use of the Taser X2 (Conducted Energy Devices) by Police Scotland began at the end of May, with officers returning to their communities in June.
It followed an announcement by Police Scotland in December of plans to train additional officers in the use of the Taser to improve the safety of the public and police officers, following an increase in the number of incidents in which officers have been confronted by people with bladed weapons and an increase in assaults on officers.
At last week’s meeting of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council, community police officer Sergeant Deborah McCartney had a Taser clipped to her belt.
Giving the monthly police briefing, she told those attending they would clearly see she had been issued with one of the stun devices.
Asked by one of those attending the meeting how many officers in the Lochaber policing area had been issued with Tasers, Sergeant McCartney said it would be around ‘12 or 13’.
Asked if the roll-out of the Tasers had been Scotlandwide, Sergeant McCartney said that was not the case.
She added: ‘Lochaber was one of the areas selected to trial it and was one of the areas it was felt needed it, unfortunately.’
Sergeant McCartney said no Lochaber officer had yet had to draw a Taser.
‘But I know of one incident where it was spotted on an officer’s holster and just the sight of it proved enough on that occasion,’ she said.
‘I hope I will not have to use it, but I will if I have to.’
Asked if it could confirm the number of Lochaber police officers to have been issued with Tasers, a Police Scotland spokesperson told the Lochaber Times a breakdown of the numbers of STOs for each area was not being provided.
The spokesperson confirmed she was ‘not aware’ of any incidents in Lochaber that had involved an officer deploying a Taser.