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19 March 2009
Police forces are to receive over 6,000 new Tasers, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced today.
This follows the first wave of Tasers from the £8 million new funding made available to support a national roll-out of Tasers to specially trained police response officers.
The roll-out across England and Wales to extend the use of Tasers beyond dedicated firearms officers to specially trained police response officers followed a successful trial in 10 forces. An additional £2.3million fund is also being made available to pay for cartridges. Assisting forces with the purchase of Taser cartridges will help ensure that this valuable form of defence is rolled out as quickly as possible.
Resolving incidents without injury
Tasers are safer for the police and for the public. In situations where there has been a real possibility of someone being seriously injured or killed, Tasers have contributed to resolving the incident without injury. In a significant proportion of cases they have not needed to be fired; drawing or aiming the Taser has been enough of a deterrent.
Additional funding for 10,000 Tasers was made available to support the extension and police forces were asked to bid to the Home Office for the number of Tasers they required.
Statement from the Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith said, 'I am proud that we have one of the few police services around the world that do not regularly carry firearms and I want to keep it that way.
'Everyday the police put themselves in danger to protect us, the public. They deserve our support, so I want to give the police the tools they tell me they need to confront dangerous people. That is why I have given every police force the number of Tasers they have requested.
'I am pleased that police forces up and down the country have used the additional funding I made available for Tasers.'
Statement from the Police Federation of England and Wales
Paul McKeever of the Police Federation of England and Wales (new window) said, 'We are extremely pleased that a number of forces seem to have utilised the additional funding given for the extension of Taser. The investment rightly reflects the professionalism of police officers nation wide and recognises the vital role Taser plays in the fight against crime.
'It is extremely disappointing however that the Metropolitan Police Authority has not taken advantage of this funding. Not only does Taser provide a less lethal alternative to firearms but it provides confidence and reassurance to officers when confronted with volatile situations.'
Statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers
Derek Talbot, Assistant Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police and Association of Chief Police Officers (new window) (ACPO) spokesperson on Taser said, 'ACPO welcomed the support of the Home Secretary for our proposal to roll out Tasers to specially trained units across the country following a successful 12-month trial in 10 police forces. The trial showed that in over 80% of incidents where Tasers were used, the situation was resolved without recourse to discharge the weapon.
'This showed further evidence that Taser use is a proportionate, low risk means of resolving incidents where the public or officers face severe violence or the threat of such violence which cannot safely be dealt with by other means.
'The opportunity for more specially trained officers to be equipped with Taser is a welcome enhancement to Public and Officer safety.'
The facts and stats
The roll-out of Taser followed reports from the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (new window) which found that Tasers provided real benefits for both public and police officer safety in incidents involving serious violence.
Statistics from the trial show of the 661 recorded uses of Tasers, 85% involved the weapon just being drawn, aimed, arced or the subject being 'red-dotted' - showing Tasers powerful deterrent effect and its benefits in preventing any escalation in violence. Tasers were only discharged in 93 of the 661 uses.
The extension means that officers in specially trained units are able to use Tasers in situations where they face serious violence or threats of serious violence to the public, themselves or the subject. This is set out in ACPO guidance on its use.
Notes to editors
Table showing the number of tasers provided per police force.
