Officers to be allowed Taser in court

17 November 2020

Police officers will now be allowed to carry Taser in court after years of campaigning for a change in legislation.

From today, subject to local policy, officers will not have to remove the devices when attending court on routine business, such as giving evidence or delivering exhibits.
“This is good news for police officers,” says Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, “It makes complete sense for them to be able to have their usual items of personal protective equipment on hand at all times and Taser should be considered part of that.

“Having access to Taser while in court could enable officers to protect not just themselves but the court staff and the public should the need arise.”

The move comes after the Lord Chief Justice amended the Criminal Practice Direction.
Evidence gathered from front-line officers by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) highlighted the difficulties they faced when having to remove and store the equipment before being allowed into court – including lack of secure storage facilities and eating into their time.

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 the legislative changes needed.

“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.”