• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

A third of Met cops to carry Tasers as Commissioner vows to protect Londoners from “violent incidents”

June 20, 2017 by Martin Hoscik

An additional 1,800 Metropolitan Police officers are to be issued with Tasers, taking the total number of officers carrying the weapon to 6,400.

Commissioner Cressida Dick says the expansion will allow her officers to better protect the public and themselves from “violent incidents”.

Her decision comes in the wake of two terror attacks in the city and a 24 per cent surge in knife crimes over the last year, as well a “steady increase” in the number of police officers assaulted.

As a result of the increase around a third of all frontline officers will now carry the non-lethal weapons.

Commissioner Dick said: “Keeping the public safe from harm is at the heart of our job. With this uplift, my officers will be better equipped to protect the public and themselves.

“We know that the mere presence of a Taser is often enough to defuse a dangerous situation and often get a suspect to drop their weapon if they’re armed.

“Taser reduces the need for physical contact and also the risk of unintended or unnecessary injuries to all parties.”

The Met routinely publishes detailed, borough level statistics on Taser, allowing members of the public and the London Assembly’s police and crime committee to monitor the number of times the weapons are used.

In addition, Commissioner Dick says the roll-out of body worn cameras to all uniformed officers means Londoners “can also rest assured that the use of Taser is correctly recorded and monitored and that the use of it is subject to comprehensive scrutiny.”

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: News, popular

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy