Police Scotland shell out additional £1.7m on Tasers as officer assaults rise
Police chiefs are shelling out £1.7million to replenish their Taser stocks amid soaring rates of attacks on officers.
Latest figures show that in the first half of 2024 there were 3,815 assaults against Police Scotland officers and staff – an average of 20 per day.
That is 36 assaults more than the five-year average of 3,779 for the same six month time period.
It comes as last year, Chief Constable Jo Farell said that more police officers should carry the high voltage weapons to deter violent attacks, which includes officers being slashed, bitten and spat at.
The widow of Lewis Fulton, a police officer killed in the line of duty in 1994, has previously called for more officers to carry the controversial stun guns.
Christine Fulton, who was awarded an MBE for a lifetime of helping families of wounded or killed officers, believes every one of Police Scotland’s around 16,300 officers should be Taser-trained.
Currently, police have 2,000 Specially Trained Officers who can discharge the guns, up from 500 in 2021.
Now, new public contract documents show that Scotland’s single force is planning to spend £1,693,936 to update its Taser stocks to ensure police can continue to protect themselves.
About 2,000 Police Scotland officers carry the ‘incapacitating’ 50,000-volt stun guns.
Last night, Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr MSP said the number of attacks on police was ‘disgraceful’.
He added: ‘They are already facing huge pressures due to sustained SNP cuts being imposed on police budgets, so thinking they might be attacked will only be pushing many beyond breaking point.
‘It should not have reached a point where the police feel they have little option but to extend the use of tasers just to try and keep themselves safe.
‘SNP ministers need to finally show some common sense and back our calls to double the maximum sentence for those who think it is acceptable to assault emergency service workers.’
Police Scotland has confirmed that in the year 2023/24, the stun guns were deployed to incidents on 3,017 occasions and discharged on 88 – a record high.
The widow of Lewis Fulton, killed in the line of duty, has said more officers should carry Tasers.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said police use Tasers to keep themselves safe.
According to Police Scotland’s National Taser Unit, around 79 per cent of discharges of ‘incapacitating’ 50,000-volt stun guns have been to protect police.
A spokesman said: ‘Keeping the public, our officers and staff safe is a priority.
‘Taser gives officers an additional tactical option to keep people safe.
‘Following a rise in officer assaults, we made a commitment in 2021 to increase the number of Specially Trained Officers from 500 to 2,000 by 2024. This was completed as of the end of March 2024.
‘The decision to use Taser is based on the particular circumstances of the incident following an assessment of the threat and risk being faced by the officer or public.
‘It is vital that the threat and risk posed is the primary consideration.’
They added: ‘Taser will only be used when it’s proportionate, necessary and justified and we have a robust training programme to ensure those specially trained officers provided with Taser know how to use it safely and in the correct circumstances.
‘As is part of standard procedure in Scotland, the circumstances of all Taser discharges are referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.’
