Page 7 - WMPF Federation FEB-MAR 2022_Neat

Taser: has someone

got to be seriously

injured before Force

sees sense?

West Midlands Police sergeant tense and potentially violent situations
has warned colleagues could face rather than actually deployed.
A serious injury without the She explained: “Sometimes you just need
protection of Taser after the Force to put your hands on it and it defuses the
announced it was no longer funding situation, sometimes you have to draw it but
one-day refresher training courses for it is very much a deterrent, it calms people
them. down because basically they don’t want to be
Sergeant Hannah Graham, who has Tasered.
been based at Stechford since her “I just can’t get my head around the
promotion four years ago, is among the decision not to make it available for all
sergeants affected by the decision which frontline officers. There is an argument for
has been branded nonsensical by the not giving it to office-based sergeants but
Police Federation. the ideal scenario would be to make it
Hannah, who was a response PC available to every serving officer who
across Birmingham for 14 years before requests it.”
becoming a sergeant, said she found it Hannah said levels of violence on the
difficult to understand the Force’s stance. streets have risen noticeably in recent years
She said: “I really can’t get my head and made the need for proper PPE such as
around it. It’s as if they have no idea what Taser essential for frontline officers.
is going on. But what is it going to take She added: “It’s something I am very
before they realise? Has someone got to passionate about and I find it so frustrating
get really badly hurt before they see that the Force is taking this attitude towards
sense?” it. It feels as if it is really unaware of what’s
Hannah was fully trained and equipped going on out on the streets.”
with Taser for eight years but was unable
to convert to the new model as a result of
the funding decision and is no longer
authorised to carry it because her ticket
has now expired. I JUST CAN’T GET MY HEAD AROUND THE DECISION NOT TO MAKE IT
She said: “After having it for eight “
years, I really miss it and there have been AVAILABLE FOR ALL FRONTLINE OFFICERS. THERE IS AN ARGUMENT
times when I have felt vulnerable. I am
quite slightly built and, while not FOR NOT GIVING IT TO OFFICE-BASED SERGEANTS BUT THE IDEAL
suggesting I can’t handle myself, I always
felt it was there as added security. SCENARIO WOULD BE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO EVERY SERVING
“I am a proactive sergeant, I like to get OFFICER WHO REQUESTS IT.
out there and I am nearly always single-
crewed and sometimes I really wish I still
had the Taser.”
Hannah said Taser was more often
than not used as a deterrent; to defuse Sergeant Hannah Graham.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation February/March 2022 7