Legal News
“Police should carry Tasers” says Police Federation chief (2 February 2015)
Date: 02/02/2015
The Head of the Police Federation Steve White has said that all frontline police officers should be offered the opportunity to carry a taser.
BBC News reports that Mr White suggested that carrying a taser would help protect police officers and the public against “dangerous people” on Britain’s streets
“The terrorist ideal to get attention no longer relies on an attack being in a place of note – it could be in Cheam High Street, in any town, in any part of the UK,” Mr White said.
“We know there are more dangerous people out there, preparing to attack police officers and we need to be able to respond to that threat.”
The Police Federation is due to vote on the proposal that every uniformed officer should receive Taser training. It is thought some police officers may choose not to carry one, however.
Mr White added.
“It is a defensive tool and a tactical option. We have a largely unarmed service and the service wants that to remain.
“The alternative is to have officers out there without anything at all. We have to do something.
“The sector threat has gone up by two levels and we need to make sure everything is done to protect officers who protect the public.”
Mr White called for police to carry Tasers after the killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks.
"As Lee Rigby demonstrated, you don't need to have a gun to create terrorism,” Mr White added.
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