Taser as part of Personal Protective Equipment

28 March 2018

The Essex Police Federation is backing calls for all officers to be armed with Tasers for every shift they work.

The armed policing lead for The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told The Guardian that every officer, even those on routine patrol, should be allowed to carry the stun weapons.

Simon Chesterman said officers on duty ‘deserve the protection’ Taser offers.

Essex Federation Chair Steve Taylor said making Tasers part of officers’ every day defence should be made a force objective.

“If we make it an objective then everything else can fall in around it,” he said.

“Of course, there are challenges and practical issues, cost being one of them. If there’s limited Taser use and Taser training, then there could come a day when an officer has it one day and not the next.

“What a horrible position to be in and there could be some serious consequences.

“So, let’s not set up our people to fail, let’s take Taser provision out of the ‘too difficult’ column and work to overcome the hurdles,” he said.

Last month Essex Police Federation called for all officers to be issued with Taser