Sergeants will now be able to renew their Taser training ticket

10 March 2022

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke has welcomed a decision to offer Taser refresher courses to sergeants who meet the re-training criteria.

The change in policy comes after the Force carried out a review of the number of officers who are qualified to use the equipment. 

Rich, who led calls for the Force to re-consider its withdrawal of refresher training for Taser trained sergeants, said he was delighted with the decision which he described as “excellent news”.

He said: “Working with the Force, and following a review of the numbers of authorised Taser officers, it has been decided that sergeants who meet the criteria to attend a one-day refresher will now be allowed to re-train. 

“Sergeants whose tickets are about to expire will also be refreshed and can book on to a course.

“This is excellent news in terms of officer safety and something I, my colleagues and the Federation have worked on since I was elected as Federation branch chair in December 2021.

“The long-term position around Taser in terms of numbers and roles of those allowed to train will be looked at as part of the Taser Strategic Risk Assessment later this year, which I have been assured I will be part of to represent members’ views.

“But, for now, I am delighted with this decision.”

Rich thanked Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara and Superintendent Martin Hurcomb and said the Federation would continue to work with both senior officers to ensure a sensible, evidence-based, long-term position ensures members are protected.

He also called on supervisors to make sure Taser courses were not wasted through non-attendance and warned any courses lost as a result would be damaging to the interests of all members.

The Force’s initial decision to withdraw funding for Taser training for sergeants on cost grounds was met with dismay across West Midlands Police Federation which branded the position “nonsensical”.

Many experienced sergeants who had been qualified to carry Taser for several years found themselves unable to carry the equipment and some feared their safety could be compromised as a result.

Rich said: “Put simply, Taser could save an officer’s life. Sergeants are often the only officers free to support colleagues at back-up shouts; they are mostly single-crewed in some of the most violent streets of the UK.”