MORE police officers on Teesside could be armed with tasers if a consultation which opens today is successful.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is set to bid for additional government funding for a £10m pot controlled by the Home Secretary Priti Patel.

On Teesside, members of the public and Cleveland Police officers are being asked for their opinions on whether more officers should be armed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “I have always pressed for additional resources for Cleveland Police so I am pleased that the Government is offering funds to allow Cleveland to make an investment in Taser equipment.

“We need to make sure that police officers have the tools they need to keep themselves and the public safe and I believe Cleveland’s residents will welcome additional officers being trained in Taser, should that be a decision the Chief Constable makes.  

“To make sure we apply for the appropriate level of funding, I plan to consult, both within the Force and with the wider public, before making a bid to the Home Office.”

The taser weapons work by firing two small darts, delivering an electric current to incapacitate the person it is being used against.

Tasers are classed as 'less-lethal' firearms, but the possibility of serious injury or death still exists in rare circumstances.

Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, Steve Graham said: “Taser is one of a number of tactical options deployed by our police to protect themselves and members of the community.

"Nationally, the number of officers in a force who are trained and equipped with Taser is a decision for individual Chief Constables based upon an assessment of local threat and risk.

“In Cleveland Police we are currently increasing our numbers in line with this assessment and will keep this under review.  We will be submitting a bid to the Home office to support this.”

  • The survey can be found at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/V7HIE/ and is open until Sunday, February 2.