British Transport Police to equip officers with tasers

British Transport Police (BTP) are to equip a number of police officers on Scotland’s railways with tasers in order to increase security.

The BPT referred to an incident in East London at Leytonstone station in which police tasered a man who slashed a passenger.

But the policy puts the force at odds with Police Scotland, which only allows firearms officers to carry the weapons.

Alun Thomas, temporary assistant chief constable of the BTP, said: “This decision is not based on specific intelligence of any criminal behaviour or imminent threat, but will allow us the option to deploy Taser devices where, in the course of their duty, an officer needs to protect the public or themselves by using force.

“The current threat to the UK from international terrorism remains ‘severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely.

“Recent terrorist attacks across the world are a stark reminder that the threat from terrorism is a genuine risk and it is important that we keep our security measures and operational tactics under constant review.”

South of the border, police forces routinely carry tasers, while fewer than 300 in Scotland carry the weapon.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), the body for rank and file officers, called for the stun guns to be kept in every patrol car.

In 2015, they were used 1,730 times by officers in England and Wales, and twice in Scotland.

Liam McArthur, justice spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: “The decision to equip officers with tasers is not one that should be taken lightly. As with the deployment of armed police officers, we must have robust reassurances that their use will be proportionate to the threat level.

“Security and safety are vitally important, but so too are our rights as citizens. The BTP may be justified in taking this decision, but the public will need to have confidence that the way in which it is implemented and its effects are being very closely monitored over the months ahead. This is something the parliament’s justice committee will no doubt wish to do.”