Critics say issuing stun guns to every frontline officer to counter terror threat would change face of British policing

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Police Federation has voted for all frontline uniformed officers to be offered a Taser to provide protection from terrorists.



The vote on Monday puts pressure on police chiefs, some of whom have voiced their opposition, and the Home Office.

The interim national board of the Police Federation, essentially its cabinet, voted unanimously for the radical change, which was revealed by the Guardian last month.

It comes after the threat level of terrorist attack for police officers was raised last month to “severe”, meaning an attempt to kill a police officer by terrorists is assessed as being highly likely.

Steve White, chair of the Police Federation, said after the vote: “This is a step in the right direction and we will now work with ACPO [Association of Chief Police Officers], individual chief officers, the Superintendents’ Association and the Home Office to progress this as a matter of urgency.

“We have long called for a wider rollout of Taser. Now the time is right for all operational police officers to have the option to carry Taser, which I believe will provide greater public reassurance.”

Critics say issuing Tasers to every uniformed frontline officer would change the face of British policing, which is traditionally largely unarmed. Critics also say the plans would put the public at risk from having the stun guns fired at them. Some police chiefs are also opposed.

Taser use has been linked to at least 10 deaths in England and Wales over the past decade. In 2013, factory worker Jordan Begley, 23, died two hours after a Greater Manchester officer fired a stun gun at him at his home after police were called to reports of an argument.

Under the plans, officers would be offered the option of carrying a Taser and receiving training in their use if they are deemed to be at risk because they work on the frontline and in uniform.

Home secretary Theresa May is expected to come under direct pressure on Tuesday over providing extra money for Tasers when she meets White.

The meeting was already scheduled but the federation wants the government to provide extra funds to provide the stun guns and train thousands of extra officers in their use.



Give UK officers Tasers to help fight terror threat, says Police Federation Read more

Tasers deliver a 50,000-volt shock to incapacitate people and some officers are expected to refuse to carry them.

White said: “Any officer authorised to carry Taser must be fully trained to do so and there are strict procedures and safeguards in place to ensure all officers are fully accountable.

“It is only right that police officers be given the choice to carry Taser and we urge government and all chief officers to give this their support.”

Police chiefs are also concerned about the cost of issuing Tasers to every officer, and training them, which could run to tens of millions of pounds.

Commander Neil Basu, the national policing lead on Taser, said: “While I would support an extended rollout, this must be informed by appropriate assessments of existing threat and risk, the high standards of training must not be diluted and they should only be carried by those who volunteer to do so.”

Chris Sims, chief of West Midlands police, said the plans threatened the British style of policing. Sims, one of Britain’s most senior police chiefs and vice-chair of the chief constables’ terrorism committee, told the Guardian: “It’s not proportionate to the threat at the moment.

“I don’t think, on the basis of the current threat, we can risk undermining the British policing model. Universal Taser is quite a big step in that direction.”

Since the terrorist threat level was raised, police chiefs and representatives of Britain’s 127,000 rank-and-file officers have been considering how to counter that threat.

The threat level for police was raised by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre based within MI5 after the terrorist attacks in Paris in which three police officers were killed, followed the next week by the thwarting of a plot in Belgium where police were again the target.

British counter-terrorism officials believe they have uncovered plans to attack officers and Islamic State propaganda earlier this month renewed a call for followers to attack the police.

Tight gun control in Britain means the biggest danger comes from a terrorist with a knife or machete, similar to the fatal May 2013 attack on soldier Lee Rigby outside Woolwich barracks in south London.

At present, about 10% of officers are trained to use Tasers. The training takes two to three days and costs £1,000 an officer.

After the vote White said the government should find the money to fund the purchase of extra Tasers and the training of thousands of extra officers to use them: “The chancellor George Osborne found £130m for security services in relation to terrorism.

“If he found £130m he can find the money to keep its officers safe. You can’t expect chief officers to find the money under the mattress – the government needs to find the money to keep their officers safe.”