Federation: More Tasers and Firearms needed in policing

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THERE should be more police officers carrying a Taser and a firearm in England and Wales to keep people safe, the Chairman of Essex Police Federation has said.

While the service awaits a review by Chief Officers into armed policing capability in the country, Steve Taylor said Essex Police officers have already made their views clear in a Federation survey earlier this year. 

“We would like to see an uplift in firearms officers here in Essex,” said Steve. “We’d like to see more Taser in Essex as well but we don’t want to see routine arming of officers. And I’d be surprised if the national results from a national survey or review brought forward a different position to that which the Essex membership has already expressed.”

At the quarterly meeting of Chief Constables Council, held in July, police leaders launched a review of both gun and Taser capability in England and Wales “looking at the risk to the public and our officers who are first on the scene.”

The Firearms and Taser survey – carried out by Essex Police Federation this spring – showed that only 8% of Essex Police officers feel there are currently an “adequate” amount of gun carrying officers in the county.

Results also show that the largest number of respondents – 33% – believe there “should be more specialist firearms officers in Essex but not all officers should be routinely armed.”

83% of officers surveyed feel all Essex Police officers should be issued with Taser whilst on duty. More than 700 Essex Police officers responded to the survey on Taser and Firearms, which ran for three weeks in April/May.

In November, it was announced that 92 more Essex Police officers – including 23 police dog handlers – will undergo training to use Tasers, with a further 41 due to follow, after a review. This would more than double the number of officers trained to use the device.

Speaking in May, Steve said: “Locally we will continue to work with our force as it makes more Tasers available and looks to resource our firearms officers.”