Taser: “In terms of offering protection for the public and officers it’s become a key piece of protective equipment"

8 February 2021

Kent Police are to see one of the largest Taser roll-outs in England with 1,000 officers to be trained and equipped.

The Tasers are to be issued following an increase in violence against police officers, Chief Constable Alan Pughsley has said.

350 Kent officers currently carry a Taser.

Mr Pughsley said carrying a taser is a "choice" for officers that is followed by a "rigorous test" to make sure they are safe to operate with them.

He said: “The training is immense and intense…. with safeguards and reviews every time [the force] uses a Taser.” He said he'd made the decision "to protect [his] officers", adding that it was "unacceptable that they go to work, to get assaulted, just by doing their job."

Neil Mennie, Kent Police Federation Chair, said: “Kent Police have been fortunate in that the Chief Constable had always supported the wider rollout of Taser and this has been ongoing for some time.

"This additional uplift is very welcome and more officers who want to carry it and meet the stringent training requirements will be able to do so.

“In terms of offering protection for the public and officers it’s become a key piece of protective equipment. Taser is not a solution to everything but amongst the other skills, equipment and training represents an important option.”

Critics have said the roll-out was a “waste of money”. But Neil added: “To suggest that the money could be better spent elsewhere and that this could lead to misuse quite frankly is an insult to the professionalism of our members. There can be no greater priority than ensuring the safety of both officers and the public they serve.

“There will of course be the usual armchair experts and those who have no idea of some of the situations officers face where decisions have to be made sometimes in an instant. This does not change our policing style in any way and our experience is that the public here in Kent remain supportive.”

A poll by the Police Federation of England and Wales found that eight out of ten officers want to carry a taser. A review by the National Police Chiefs Council into officer safety is ongoing.

To see the story in full, go to: https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-02-05/tasers-to-be-issued-to-1000-extra-police-officers-across-kent