Taser gun training for more Shropshire officers
More police officers in Shropshire will be taught how to use Taser stun guns, the West Mercia force confirmed today.
From August, 60 officers across the West Mercia area will be given training on how to use the weapons, at a cost of about £40,000.
Currently 173 officers in the region's police force have been trained to use the devices.
Police figures revealed Tasers were deployed on 163 occasions within the last 12 months in the force area – but only fired 30 times.
A Taser delivers an electrical charge to the person it is fired at, causing a temporary loss of voluntary muscle control, which makes them "freeze" or fall to the ground.
Only officers selected and provided with training can use the weapon.
Those officers who begin training in August are expected to be fully operational towards the end of the year.
Deputy chief constable Simon Chesterman, who is responsible for the use of the device across the force, said "Taser is a weapon and as such it is not a risk-free option.
"Government independent medical advisers describe the risks from the electricity as 'very low' and slightly higher where the person may have an underlying heart condition or is of small stature.
"These risks are covered in the training and ultimately Taser is often a less injurious tactical option when compared to a baton strike or a dog bite.
"Deployment is usually linked to alcohol-related crime, domestic abuse incidents and violence linked to the night-time economy where a person is posing a threat of serious harm to another person, themselves or a police officer.
"All Taser deployment and use is recorded, monitored and reviewed. Between the beginning of April 2012 and the end of March 2013, Taser was deployed on 163 occasions but was only fired on 30 occasions in the force area.
"As these figures show, Tasers are rarely fired and their presence is often enough to resolve conflict in the vast majority of cases.
"We are pleased that we will soon be able to offer the public more protection from violent individuals who seek to cause them harm by increasing our Taser capability through the roll-out of these additional officers."
