Complaints against officers

[Fedster + 1,307]

Force vows to issue Tasers to everyone on the frontline.

Taser issue: The devices will be made available to every officer who wants one, says CC Nick Adderley

Date - 20th August 2019
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

2 Comments

 

A chief admitted policing “hasn’t moved with the times” after ordering the issue of Tasers to every frontline officer in his force in response to a "sickening trend" of attacks on the emergency services.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley, who served in the Royal Navy before joining the police, said the decision to issue the weapons was not taken lightly.

But he said he was "not prepared to wait" as police personnel were facing deadly threats from people with “no respect for the law”.

CC Adderley said the weapons would be issued to all officers who want one.

He said: "I can't sit here and preside over a situation where my officers are exposed to increasing levels of violence when at my disposal is equipment that could save an officer's life.

"There are people out there who are prepared to seriously injure, or worse.

"We haven't moved with the times and we have to move with the times to combat the threat we are facing daily from those who simply have no respect for law and order."

CC Adderley has previously called for Tasers to be standard issue within three years, but said he couldn’t wait any longer" . His decision has been "fully supported" by police and crime commissioner Stephen Mold.

It will take 18 months to train and equip the officers and cost around £220,000, he added.

In a tweet, CC Adderley said risks to officers had "changed dramatically", adding: "Our officers have a right to feel safe, supported and adequately equipped to tackle this sickening trend."

The announcement follows the death of PC Andrew Harper in Berkshire last week as he responded to reports of a burglary, the latest incident where an officer has been harmed while on duty.

Earlier this month Met PC Stuart Outten was attacked with a machete in Leyton, east London, and used a Taser despite being stabbed in the head, while West Midlands Police PC Gareth Phillips was run over with his patrol car in Birmingham.

• CC Nick Adderley

Issuing Tasers is a matter for each individual police force, but Police Federation of England and Wales national chairman John Apter added: "We should ensure every officer who wants to carry a Taser can do so.

"Officer safety should never come second to balancing the books."

View On Police Oracle

[Ether + 1,393]

About time someone stepped forward and made a bold choice 

[Shmook + 532]

Just heard this on the radio, good decision. 

Minor quibble with the article though, aren't they classed as PPE and not 'weapons'? 

[Beaker 817]

5 minutes ago, Shmook said:

Just heard this on the radio, good decision. 

Minor quibble with the article though, aren't they classed as PPE and not 'weapons'? 

Nope.  If they classed them as PPE they would have to give them to everyone, including Specials.  There isn't the political appetite for that, even if they had the funding.

[Shmook + 532]

43 minutes ago, Beaker said:

Nope.  If they classed them as PPE they would have to give them to everyone, including Specials.  There isn't the political appetite for that, even if they had the funding.

Ah yes, that's it! 

 

Cheers 😁

[Jeebs + 1,190]

Here’s a tool that’s only circa 48% effective.....you should all feel safe now. *grinning thumbs up*

🙄

 

[stewie_griffin + 484]

The situation must be serious, one of your senior leaders is voicing a contraversial opinion in support of his employees.

[BlueBob + 691]

7 hours ago, stewie_griffin said:

The situation must be serious, one of your senior leaders is voicing a contraversial opinion in support of his employees.

Spot on AND doing so whilst still in office, rather than waiting till the second day into their pension time.

[skydiver + 1,099]

I see that Sophie Khan has been advocating the old 'whats wrong with talking to a knife wielding maniac' line when asked to respond to the CC's call for Tasers for all front line officers.  If there was any doubt that she was out of touch with the reality of modern policing then the interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC will banish that notion forever.  

[skydiver + 1,099]

13 hours ago, Jeebs said:

Here’s a tool that’s only circa 48% effective.....you should all feel safe now. *grinning thumbs up*

🙄

 

None of our tactics are 100% effective so its better than nothing and at least it is a chance to keep the suspect at arms length before getting close with a baton.

[Fedster + 1,307]

UK 'best' force takes aim with Taser to protect public and police from violent upswing

Second force in 24 hours promises rollout of X2 model for every frontline officer.

Totally Taser: Rollout to all frontline officers in Durham

Date - 21st August 2019
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

 

Britain’s best performing force is the second within 24 hours to commit to an all-out Taser response to the growing alarm of protecting police and public against a surge in violent attacks.

Durham Constabulary has taken the “sad” decision to follow Northamptonshire’s lead to make the devices available to every frontline officer.

Over the next 12 months, the new X2 model will be rolled out across the force, replacing the original X26 which has been used for the last 14 years.

The announcement comes in the wake of yesterday’s comments from Northants Chief Constable Nick Adderley who admitted policing “hasn’t moved with the times” as it faces standing up to a "sickening trend" of attacks on the emergency services – with personnel facing deadly threats from people with “no respect for the law”.

He said he could not wait any longer to commit to a total Taser scenario, although their implementation had “not been taken lightly”.

His words were echoed by Durham chief Jo Farrell who said: “Sadly, there are situations in which police officers need to take immediate action to subdue violent suspects to protect the public.

“Tasers allow us to do so swiftly and safely, without causing lasting injury and are an extremely effective means of dealing with the many dangerous situations officers find themselves in.

“Too often our officers are subject to assaults in the line of duty, simply for doing their job.

“We need to make sure that our officers have the tools they need to protect the public and protect themselves”.

Tasers were first introduced into Durham in 2005, when they were issued to a handful of authorised firearms officers to provide a “less lethal” option in situations where lives were potentially at risk.

It is ironic how times have changed – so rapidly.

It was only in March 2015 that eight Durham officers at any one time carried Taser. This figure was increased to 18 by the end of that year.

And Durham's police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg remarked the doubling of Taser provision in 2015 was a “safety move” and not a reflection on crime levels.

Durham Police Federation chairman Andy Jackson said today: “I strongly support the wider roll-out of Taser to all frontline officers should they wish to be equipped with it.

“Taser is an extremely effective means of dealing with the many dangerous situations that officers often face on the streets and is a less lethal option than more conventional firearms.

“In a number of cases where Taser is drawn, it is not fired as the deterrent is enough, which helps protect communities as well as protecting officers from assaults”.

View On police Oracle  

[Radman + 2,163]

On 20/08/2019 at 19:31, Jeebs said:

Here’s a tool that’s only circa 48% effective.....you should all feel safe now. *grinning thumbs up*

🙄

 

That's my biggest gripe with taser. 

If you actually look at live deployments online you'll see the majority fail first shot and more often than not it'll take multiple cartridges to actually make a connection. 

Taser is a great psychological tool, a big yellow thing that sits on your belt everyone can see... People see it and comment on it, from drunken football fans through to Johnny "burglar" Smith. 

I've found it deters alot of aggression. 

[SimonT + 1,185]

Agreed. Taser is much more effective when not used. The issue comes when you actually deploy, especially if clothing is present. 

I try and plan my first shot to support the second, rather than expect the first to work. 

Everyone having taser is better than nothing. But we shouldn't be settling for better than nothing. Something effective would be better. 

[robbo11 + 7]

Yes it’s true, Taser is not a magic tool.... certainly it is better to have than have not but if the police are not to be armed  ( with a sidearm ) then they must have the very best less/non lethal equipment that money can buy.. there is apparently an ever newer Taser available now ... Taser 7... not sure if it’s an improvement but if it is ... then that should be issued...there should be ongoing & serious research into other equipment... I was never impressed by the gas/sprays I’m afraid.. one thing is for sure though... cost should not be a bar to procurement, neither should be over sensitivity to so called public opinion.

[Sceptre + 2,701]

13 minutes ago, robbo11 said:

I was never impressed by the gas/sprays I’m afraid

How many times have you actually used it? In my experience it's generally dramatically effective, and lots of people are far too quick to write it off and go for empty-hand techniques carrying a greater risk of injury instead.