Backing for Taser

24 September 2019

Police officers – and the public – have sent a clear message to the Government that they want more officers to carry Taser according to a new research carried out by the Police Federation and broadcasters LBC.

Results of a snapshot poll of Federation members shows 89 per cent of officers would want to routinely carry Taser after being given appropriate training with nearly 97 per cent saying their colleagues should be allowed to carry the devices.

Soaring violent crime rates and the alarming rise in assaults on police officers has made the subject of personal safety a matter of great concern, with the National Police Chiefs’ Council calling an emergency summit on officer safety.

In the Federation poll more than 81 per cent of the 7,000 police officers who responded said carrying a Taser would make them feel safer and 84 per cent believe that would also be the case if their colleagues were similarly equipped.

In a poll of the public run by LBC to coincide with the Federation research, 73 per cent of the 2,000 people asked think police officers should be able to carry Taser.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics for 2018/19 show a 27 per cent increase in assaults on police officers in England and Wales with 10,399 crimes resulting in assaults or injuries to officers.

National Federation chair John Apter says: “It’s time for the Government to set aside ring-fenced funding for Taser and for chief officers to do what is necessary for their officers to be able to protect themselves and the public and rollout Taser to all front-line officers who wish to carry it.”