Taser training a stunning £350,000

Arming more Greater Manchester Police officers with Tasers will cost the force almost £350,000 this year, records reveal.

Training up the rank and file to use the American-style stun guns will also take each officer off the streets for at least two days. Until this year only the most highly-trained fire arms squads could carry the weapons, which emit 50,000-volts to temporarily paralyse targets.

But a relaxation of the rules means 30,000 more junior officers are set to be trained up nationally.

Under the Freedom of Information Act GMP said training in the use of Tasers cost £274,504 last year, while this year it will cost £351,719.

The figures do not take in to account any costs for the officers’ time.

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman who uncovered the information, said: “Having police out patrolling the streets would be of far more benefit to the public than locking them away for two days and training them to use deadly weapons.
“Tasers should be left in the hands of specially trained firearms officers.

“By giving 30,000 officers Tasers we are descending the slippery slope towards fully armed, US-style policing.”

Insp Andy Fitton of Greater Manchester Police’s specialist operations branch said: “Tasers are an effective and safe option for police officers to use in violent situations.

“Experience has shown that often, the mere threat of their use can defuse a dangerous situation safely, protecting both the public and officers from harm.

“Officers who will be issued with a Taser will receive the highest quality of training to maintain our excellent standards.”