More officers to be given Taser

More Leicestershire police officers are to be trained to use a taser.

Around 150 more officers will be trained to carry a taser by April next year.

They say the decision is following a review of taser's ability to keep people safe and reduce assaults on officers.

Chief Inspector Mick Fletcher, who did the review, said: “The evidence makes it clear that Taser not only makes our staff safer, it also makes the public safer, by better equipping us to protect them against violence.

“In the overwhelming majority of cases, the sight of Taser is sufficient to avoid further conflict. The staff and public survey both showed support for increased access, and I am delighted that Chief Officers have agreed to support this.”

Dave Stokes, the Chair of the Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “This is really welcome news from the force in terms of the Taser uplift and the continued commitment from the Chief Officer team to ensure officer safety.

“It’s a great example of the Federation working with the force to keep our staff and communities safer.”

Lord Willy Bach, the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “It is our policing tradition that the police do not carry potentially lethal weapons on duty unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. In my view the public support the tradition, but are sensible enough to realise when circumstances have changed making it essential for ‘police force’ to change too.

“The Chief Constable will be updating me on a six monthly basis about the progress and development of the implementation.”