Police force to give Tasers to all officers after 'murder' of PC Andrew Harper and 'sickening trend' of attacks

COPS are going to be handed Tasers to protect themselves after PC Andrew Harper was killed following a "sickening trend" of attacks against officers.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley will equip all his frontline officers with the weapon to fight back against mounting violence.

It will take 18 months to train the 1,044 cops on the force and will cost around £220,000, the Daily Express reports.

PCC Adderley, who served in the Royal Navy, told the newspaper: "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."

'SICKENING TREND'

Police officers in the UK are currently given a baton, CS spray, leg and arm restraints and handcuffs to protect themselves.

But the decision to equip cops with Tasers is up to the individual forces – meaning many do not carry them because of the cost.

In England and Wales, there are around 17,000 Taser-trained police out of 123,000 officers.

But PCC Adderley said the risk to cops has "changed dramatically", adding: "Our officers have a right to feel safe, supported and adequately equipped to tackle this sickening trend."

SPATE OF ATTACKS

The announcement comes after a spate of violent attacks on British police officers while on duty.

PC Andrew Harper last week became the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty since PC Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death in the Westminster terror attack in 2017.

The 28-year-old was killed after being hit by a suspected getaway vehicle while responding to a burglary on Thursday in Berkshire.

He was due to go on honeymoon next week with his new wife, Lissie, 28, next week, just four weeks after they married.

Jed Foster, 20, has been charged with PC Harper's murder and is due to appear in court today.

A week before the tragedy, PC Stuart Outten, 28, was stabbed in the head as he tried to stop a van in Leyton, East London but managed to Taser the suspects.

And earlier this month, PC Gareth Phillips, 42, suffered a head injury and broken pelvis after stopping a suspected stolen car in Birmingham.

While in Northern Ireland, officers were "lucky to be alive" after being lured to a bomb blast on the border.

Source: Read Full Article