Up to 150 more police officers in Leicestershire will get Taser guns

Up to 150 more police officers will be trained to carry a Taser gun in Leicestershire over the next year.

Local and specialist frontline officers, including those policing Harborough district, will be among those equipped with the powerful stun guns.

Leicestershire Police is acting in a bid to help officers protect themselves from violent criminals as well as helping to keep the public safe from assault.

As part of a study into the use of Tasers, the force conducted a public survey.

And a staggering 97 per cent of people said they wanted more police to be handed the electric Taser.

Ch Insp Mick Fletcher, who carried out the review, said: “The evidence makes it clear that the Taser not only makes our staff safer, it also makes the public safer, by better equipping us to protect them against violence.

“In the overwhelming majority of cases, the sight of a Taser is sufficient to avoid further conflict.”

He added: “The staff and public survey both showed support for increased access.

“I am delighted that chief officers have agreed to support this.”

Dave Stokes, the chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “This is really welcome news from the force in terms of the Taser uplift and the continued commitment from the chief officer team to ensure officer safety.

“It’s a great example of the Federation working with the force to keep our staff and communities safer.”

Lord Willy Bach, the Police and Crime Commissioner, (PCC), said: “It is our policing tradition that the police do not carry potentially lethal weapons on duty unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.

“In my view the public supports the tradition.

“But they are sensible enough to realise when circumstances have changed making it essential for ‘police force’ to change too.”

He added: “The chief constable will be updating me on a six-monthly basis about the progress and development of the implementation.”

Meanwhile, Conservative PCC Candidate Rupert Matthews said: “I am delighted that because of actions taken by the Conservative government, Leicestershire and Rutland will receive a £82,500 funding increase to deliver 100 new Tasers for our officers.

“We know people are concerned about the increase in serious violence.

“We promised to work to make our communities safer and that is exactly what are doing.”