Is It Time For All Police Officers To At Least Have A Tazer

[youngmafbog]

After the attempted murder of a Police Officer by Muhammed Rodwan the other day there are renewed calls for all Police to have a taser.

Is it time, should we try this before arming them?

Unfortunately, since the Government and the judiciary are not willing to tackle knife crime correctly do we have any choice? Police Officers cannot be allowed to be in such danger, especially in the urban environment.

[Old_Geezer]

They have a truncheon, I don't see having a firing cattle prod for use on humans is a good step. There's been plenty of reports of misuse in the past. As you point out, the thing to do is tackle the knife crime issue.

[bhg481]

If I were a police officer I'd be happier with a taser. Truncheons need you to be relatively close and require swing room. Tasers can be used more remotely and instantly disable the baddy.

[Sparta]

The lead must come from the police and not from politicians. If the police feel they need greater protection they should say so and then it should be down to MPs to consider the benefits, cost and any downsides. It's the same argument as empowering them with firearms. Yes, they have been a lot of problems with tazers, across the world, and don't think they are a panacea.

[Ken4155]

I've just researched the cost of a taser and find that they are around £1,500 a pop - 3 times the price of a Glock. Given that funding for our police has been cut year in year out (yes, i know BoJo has promised them the Earth) would not the cost of arming ALL serving police officer impinge on normal police activities being carried out?

[dannyk13]

Ken, during my service there were a least two surveys asking whether we felt that we should all be armed.The result of all three was a resounding no.

[Ken4155]

Which i fully understand, Danny. Having a gun on one's hip may look cool but many, many officers would be reluctant to use it. Yet they do have to protect themselves in this ever increasingly violent world so perhaps tasers are the way?

[dannyk13]

Ken I think tasers would be more acceptable.

[Ken4155]

Would you believe, Danny, that during my time in the Army, i knew of a few squaddies who just hated being on the rifle range and firing their SLRs. Their killing potential, the noise they made and the powerful recoil were just too much for some. I've even seen one or two close their eyes as they pulled the trigger! 'Shot shy' is the term we used for them. Weird, really, when you think they volunteered for the armed forces:-/

[dannyk13]

Ken , yes I believe it having come across a few like that during my time in the Army.

[Peter Pedant]

// Police Officers cannot be allowed to be in such danger, especially in the urban environment.//
you do realise that being a police officer involves arresting ruffians and people who swear at you, and call you useless winkers ?

tazers against knives - why not give them knives ? or pistols? or bazookas? or grenade launchers? or their muvvuz in law ?

the problem wiv - "I cant go there it is so dangerous!" - is Hungerford, or the underground 2005 or the fire service Arena 2017 - where lots of people die, but thank god no police men

[Khandro]

Samurai swords all round

[Peter Pedant]

// 'Shot shy' is the term we used for them. Weird, really, when you think they volunteered for the armed forces:-/ //

wha'.... including da doctors and dentists?

Colin Powell ( who he den?) was selected because he could put a million men in Saudi - OK Kuwait or thereabouts - who then invaded Iraq - not someone else did the shooting. He wasnt dead-eye Col.

Police is a broader church - rape crisis springs to mind or child protection.
You dont expect - "hey man you hit your kid bamma lamma bamma!"

[dannyk13]

PP //tazers against knives - why not give them knives ? or pistols? or bazookas? or grenade launchers? or their muvvuz in law //
Would you fancy using a baton against a machete wielding assailant?

[wolf63]

Issue every Police Officer with a partner - either a Human or a German Shepherd.

We expect officers to go out and keep our streets safe for us on their own. I think that would help.

[dannyk13]

Wolf //We expect officers to go out and keep our streets safe for us on their own. I think that would help. //
We should also expect that officers be suitably equipped to do just that.

[wolf63]

Danny - yes, but single manning is not an ideal way of policing either.

I thought that every Police Officer had a Taser/Tazer.

[dannyk13]

Wolf //I thought that every Police Officer had a Taser/Tazer.//
No

[jno]

if you happened to be carrying a table leg, you'd certainly be safer if police carried tasers rather than guns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4539693.stm

[Khandro]

wolf; //Issue every Police Officer with a partner - either a Human or a German Shepherd. //

I assume you are referring to the dog variety :0)
But dogs are vulnerable to machetes as well as cops

[saintpeter48]

There needs to be an overhaul in the sentencing guidelines IMO. Anyone caught carrying a knife should get minimum of 5 years in prison, using a knife to wound or even threaten anyone, especially a police officer, should get minimum of 10 years, killing someone using a knife should get life, not life serving 10 years etc, but LIFE.