Federation: More Essex officers should have a Taser
FRONTLINE officers in Essex Police have begun to be issued with Taser – but the federation are keen on an even greater roll out of the less-lethal weapon.
Since response and patrol officers were permitted to use Taser in January, more than fifty have been trained in its use.
The Federation believe this number should increase.
Roy Scanes, Federation secretary, said: “We are pleased with an extended roll out of Taser but I do not think it has gone far enough. It is a step in the right direction for more than just firearms officers to be deployed with Taser but we still believe it could go further.
“We continue to discuss this with the force.”
Currently there are 174 authorised firearms officers in Essex Police trained to use Taser, with 57 response and patrol officers now also permitted to use the stun gun.
Mr Scanes added: “It is a fantastic piece of kit to combat someone who is threatening violence towards officers or has possession of a weapon.
“We would like there to be a Taser available to officers in Essex as a back up 24 hours a day.”
Mr Scanes said that there are associated risks with officers using CS on suspects, as it can have after affects, and that officers using a baton can potentially break bones.
Taser, he said, poses neither of these risks and has the added bonus of allowing officers to keep a safe distance from violent suspects.
He also said the threat of a red dot from the Taser shining onto a suspect often makes people calm down.
“By producing a Taser gun, nine out of ten people become amendable to arrest,” added Mr Scanes.
Simon Chesterman, the ACPO lead on Taser, told EssexFedFocus: “Could I see a day where every front line officer is issued with Taser? I can see a day when that might be possible. But the one thing we will never do in this country is lower our standards of training we give officers.
“If you consider at the moment that 25% of officers are failing the training… the chances are we will never see every officer carrying one.”