SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation wants all officers to have access to Taser \u2013 and says the cost of this should be met by the Government.<\/p>\n
Ensuring Taser is on the hip of all officers across England and Wales is being billed as a potential important tactic in the ongoing battle against the increasing violence meted out to officers on the frontline.<\/p>\n
One Chief Constable, Northamptonshire\u2019s Nick Adderley, has vowed to make his force the first to issue the less-lethal weapon to his officers as part of their standard kit. He says when it comes to violence against his officers, \u201cenough is enough\u201d, adding that Taser can help combat the rising tide of attacks.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a sentiment echoed by South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent, although he recognises the difficult budgeting balancing job the force faces.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cOur ultimate aim is that all frontline officers will carry Taser.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut from South Yorkshire\u2019s perspective, this has to be centrally funded. Our force is currently, and quite rightly, spending its resources on restoring the number of officers to an acceptable level. So, any uplift in Taser numbers will be welcome but I think we\u2019d require major investment and it would have to come centrally.<\/p>\n
\u201cBigger forces without big resources, and South Yorkshire fits that bill, are going to struggle more than the smaller forces who are not going to have to uplift as many officers to actually do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we want everyone to have Tasers, but we understand the costs involved and we\u2019re managing other costs at the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve is a firm believer in the deterrent powers Taser can provide.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThere is some footage of an officer [being assaulted] in London \u2026 and he probably would have died if it hadn\u2019t been for his Taser.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing from someone who used to carry a Taser, the training is second to none.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving them is not going to encourage inappropriate use. And the public perception of Taser, I think, is changing anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe majority of the public would support us on Taser use because it\u2019s better to Taser somebody and have five seconds of incapacity, than to have to use your baton on somebody.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s an absolute no brainer. It\u2019s just about cost. That\u2019s why we need a central line coming from Government to say, \u2018we\u2019ll pay for officers across the country to have a Taser\u2019, because that helps the forces who don\u2019t have the same resources, who obviously need that.\u201d<\/p>\n