Police chiefs call for new recruits to carry TASERS in bid to tackle rising violent crime and terror threat
A BAN on new recruits carrying Tasers should be lifted due to rising violent crime and record terror threat, chief constables say.
Officers cannot use the weapons in their first two years of service.
But the National Police Chiefs’ Council yesterday backed proposals for selected probationers to be allowed to have Tasers after completing a rigorous application and training process.
Senior officers believe the option should be available based on local assessments of threat and risk.
They are discussing the move with the Home Office, which will have the final say.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D'Orsi, the national policing lead for "less lethal" weapons, said: "Probationers are posted to the front line and they respond to the same calls as other colleagues.
"These calls range from dealing with vulnerable people in need of help to incidents of violence.
"We want to ensure that they have the right equipment to keep themselves, suspects and members of the public safe.
"As part of this, we want to give forces the opportunity to train their probationary officers to carry Taser."
The senior officer noted that at present, suitability to carry Tasers is determined by an officer's length of service rather than the role they carry out or skills they have.
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Ms D'Orsi continued: "The diversity of our workforce has changed considerably and many of our probationers have professional and life skills from before they started their police career that demonstrates their capability and ability to carry Taser."
The possibility of expanding the pool of staff eligible for Taser training was first mooted last year as police leaders launched a review to examine what further measures may be needed to ensure officers can protect themselves and the public when faced with armed terrorists.
PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death in the Westminster attack, while an officer was hurt when he confronted the London Bridge terror gang with a baton.
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