Increase In Taser-Trained Officers Is A Positive Step

ESSEX Police Federation is ‘looking forward’ to the day when Taser will be part of every officers’ personal protection equipment.

A senior Chief Constable has told Sky News that he thinks that will be the case across England and Wales within three years, such is the level of violence and aggression officers are dealing with on the frontline.

Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said anything which can help protect officers must be considered, although he ackowledged that Taser is not necessarily the ‘silver bullet’ cure to preventing assaults on officers.

Steve said: “Taser has an important part to play as part of an officer’s PPE [personal protective equipment].

“We look forward to that day in Essex when it is an integral part of officers’ regular equipment. I say that fully cognisant of the fact that it is not the silver bullet. It is still fallible. It does and can still fail and, in certain circumstances, isn’t going to be the final arbiter when it comes to how we deal with people.

“But, all of that being said, it is far better to have it and not need it, than not have it at all.”

Taser’s real value lies in its worth as a deterrent; just unclasping it from its holster can be enough to prevent incidents from escalating and keeping officers and the public safe, Steve added.

He explained: “The statistics in Essex clearly show the deterrent effect it can provide, the ability to threaten its use through red dot and arcing, and for that to achieve the compliance you’re seeking. Ultimately that keeps our officers safer and it keeps our members of the public, our communities, safer.

“So for those good reasons we would love to see it readily available and deployed on every officer’s belt. We know it costs money. We know it’s an expensive piece of kit, not only to buy but to keep officers accredited on.

“But equally, we know the force are working on this and working at the finances. We welcome the recent increase in Essex to the tune of around 150 newly qualified officers. We welcome those incremental growths in those officers that can deploy with it. And, ultimately, as I say, we look forward to the day where we can rely on it for every officer.”