Officers now allowed Taser in court

17 November 2020

A change in the law which means police officers can carry Taser in court means they can better protect themselves, court staff and members of the public, says the secretary of Hertfordshire Police Federation.

Al Wollaston said it made sense that the Lord Chief Justice had agreed to amend the Criminal Practice Direction which, subject to local policy, will mean officers will no longer have to remove the devices when in court giving evidence, delivering exhibits or attending for other routine business.

“I am pleased to see this change in the legislation,” said Al, “It didn’t seem right that officers had to remove their Taser in a court building. They should have access to all their protective equipment when they are on duty to be able to protect themselves and other people. That is as applicable in a court as it is elsewhere.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) had gathered evidence from front-line officers highlighting the difficulties they faced, including lack of secure storage facilities, when having to remove and store Taser before being allowed into court.

Steve Hartshorn, firearms and Taser lead for PFEW, thanked Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for less lethal weapons, NPCC Taser adviser Inspector Andy Harding and the team that worked hard for many years to secure a change in the law.

“We would also like to thank Federation members who took the time to supply evidence to support the successful outcome. It has been very frustrating for my colleagues whose jobs have been impeded at times because of this,” he said.

“This much welcomed and long-overdue decision means they can better protect themselves, the courts’ staff and the public if faced with violence or threats of violence and we appreciate the judiciary and senior judges for listening to the concerns raised.”