Cheshire volunteer police officers to be armed with Tasers

Volunteer officers are an "integral part of frontline policing", Cheshire Police says

Volunteer police officers in a county are set to be armed with Taser stun guns.

Experienced Special Constables in Cheshire will now be able to train to use the devices following a change in legislation in 2022.

Volunteer officers, who have the same powers as paid officers, form "an integral and integrated part of frontline policing", the force said.

The county has around 170 volunteer Special Police Officers.

"The Special Constabulary plays a huge part in day-to-day policing here in Cheshire, giving over 5,000 hours a month," Special Constabulary Chief Officer Leon Boland said.

'Important tool'

"Our volunteers regularly dedicate incredible amounts of their own time to maintain public and police safety."

He added they were "professional and highly-skilled" and supported full-time officers in responding to emergency incidents and at events such as football matches, Creamfields and Chester races.

"Specials often attend emergency incidents first, putting themselves in danger alongside full-time officers to protect people in our community," he said.

"Taser is an important tool available to us in policing."

The officers will only be issued with the device after they meet the College of Policing and Home Office stringent requirements, are members of the Police Federation and undergo the same training as their full-time counterparts.

Assistant Chief Constable Bill Dutton, said appropriately experienced officers will be selected to be equipped with the device to "give them greater skills to protect the public and themselves from danger".

"Over the last 12 month the support and involvement our volunteer officers receive has increased significantly and we are able to involve them across a broader range of policing challenges, every day," he said.