SOUTH Yorkshire Police is taking a \u201cbig step forward\u201d in training 500 extra police officers to carry Taser, the force\u2019s Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent, Federation Chairman, would like all officers to be trained and equipped with Taser, but said this is necessarily financially viable and that a balance has to be met.<\/p>\n
Steve said: \u201cThis 500-strong uplift is massive for us because small forces are talking about equipping everybody with a Taser. None of the big forces are because they can\u2019t afford it. So that uplift for us is welcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ultimately wanted to see that every officer Taser trained has a Taser. But the cost that would be needed for that can\u2019t detract from the recruiting process going forward. So I wouldn\u2019t want us to get all these extra Tasers at the cost of 100 cops.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis needs to be centrally funded long-term and driven by the Government. So I welcome the uplift which will see South Yorkshire have a considerably higher percentage of officers with Taser than other largely metropolitan forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut ultimately our view is it needs to be treated like PAVA and CS and rolled out across the board. This is a big step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
The extra officers will be trained by March, meaning that 57% of all response staff will be equipped.\u00a0 Until now just 43% of colleagues were Taser trained. South Yorkshire Police has also changed the rules so that single-crewed officers can now carry Taser, which increases availability Steve said.<\/p>\n
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley, South Yorkshire Police, said: \u201cThe use of Taser by police officers is incredibly effective at keeping the public and our officers safe. When faced with a violent or unpredictable, high-tension incidentn – such as an individual armed with a weapon, intent on causing harm to themselves the public or our officers- it is one of the most effective options available to officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
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