Officers with CVD can now apply for Taser training

2 November 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has welcomed a change of policy by the College of Policing which will allow officers with Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) to apply for Taser training.

The move could open the door for more officers to carry Tasers which Jon says could help protect them and the public.

Jon said: “Police officers with CVD face the same dangers as any other officer and are just as vulnerable to acts of violence against them.

“We know there’s been an increase in the numbers of officers assaulted on duty and Taser is an important piece of equipment in allowing them to protect themselves, regardless of whether they have CVD.

“In 85 per cent of cases where Taser is introduced it results in a de-escalation of the situation. To deny officers with CVD the opportunity for the same level of training and access to equipment is discriminatory.

“The Federation is pushing for a wider roll-out of Taser. We need to ensure that officers who want to use Taser are given the training, equipment and support they need to do their job,” he added.

In August, the Home Office also approved the new Taser 7, which uses a green laser and is suitable for officers with certain types of CVD - which affects one in 12 men and one in 200 women.

Steve Hartshorn, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) firearms and Taser lead, said: “The Federation has been involved in actively challenging the College of Policing’s previous position. This was not fair, valid or reliable, and we have been seeking a positive resolution.

“The new training and assessment process will allow officers with CVD to apply for Taser training and to be deployed operationally if successful.

“The college’s revised process will be reviewed over time to ensure it remains current and fit for purpose. PFEW - via its network of local Federation reps - will be involved in that process.”