Summary: We are giving police Chief Constables the funding they need to equip more of their officers with Tasers, should they want to do so.
- Senseless violence is blighting our streets. Over recent weeks, we have seen several officers attacked while simply doing their jobs. Tragically, one officer has even been killed in the line of duty.
- Police officers must have the kit and powers they need to keep themselves and the public safe. That is why we are giving Chief Constables the funding to equip up more of their officers with Tasers, should they want to do so. This will help to apprehend criminals and maintain public order.
- Police officers put their lives on the line to keep us all safe every time they go out on patrol. This announcement shows that the Home Secretary and Prime Minister have their back.
Background
- Over recent weeks, we have seen several officers attacked while simply doing their jobs – with one even losing his life in the line of duty. Officers were attacked over 30,000 times last year, with 10,000 of those attacks causing injuries. This must stop.
Our solution
- We are giving police Chief Constables the funding they need to equip more of their officers with Tasers, should they want to do so. We are announcing a ringfenced £10 million fund over the next 12 months. This has the potential to equip 10,000 more officers with Tasers, helping them to maintain public order and keeping themselves safe in volatile situations.
Conservative record
- Hiring 20,000 additional police officers to keep our streets safe. The unprecedented drive to deliver 20,000 more police officers over the next three years has begun with the launch of a national recruitment campaign, overseen by a new National Policing Board and backed by £750 million next year.
Q: Will every officer have a Taser?
No – we are giving Chief Constables the option to provide more of their officers with Tasers. The funding we are providing is enough to equip 60 per cent of officers with Tasers, which could see around 10,000 more officers carrying the devices.
