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Police leaders to start bidding for more Taser

Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales can now start bidding to equip more of their officers with Taser.

The move, which is part of a wider Home Office drive to give police more powers and tools to tackle crime, follows the Home Secretary’s commitment to put more officers carrying Taser on our streets through a £10 million ringfenced fund, allowing them to better protect themselves and others from harm.

Police and Crime Commissioners will need to outline how many additional officers they plan to train to use Taser, with the final funding allocations for forces, which cover 2019/20 and 2020/21, expected to be announced as soon as February.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Our brave police officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect us and I am committed to giving them the tools they need to keep themselves and the public safe. The rise in assaults on officers is appalling which is why I am providing funding to equip up to 10,000 more officers with Taser - an important tactical option when facing potentially physically violent situations.”

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