West Midlands Police has taser power boosted
Powerful new tasers have been rolled out in the West Midlands to boost efforts to keep police officers and residents safe.
Axon Taser 10 (T10) model has been launched in the region and means West Midlands Police is one of the first forces in the country to deploy them.
Approval was granted by the Home Secretary in October and the T10 replaces the ageing X2 model which has been used for eight years.
Bosses said the technology is a major step forward as the previous models only held two cartridges while the T10 can fire up to 10 single-shot cartridges without reloading.
This allows officers to be more precise and provides more opportunities to safely control a subject without resorting to higher levels of force.
The T10 also operates at an optimum range of up to 45 feet – double that of previous devices – allowing officers to manage threats from a safer distance, significantly increasing the chances of peaceful de-escalation.
Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I am committed to ensuring that West Midlands Police has access to the most advanced technology to keep our communities and our officers safe.
“This new more accurate and effective T10 taser represents a significant leap forward in de-escalation capability, community and officer safety and public accountability.
“Critically, this device provides more data than ever before, allowing for greater transparency, because the use of force must be appropriate, lawful and proportionate at all times.
“My office and I will continue to ensure the use of Taser is subject to rigorous internal governance and external scrutiny by our community-led panels, so that public trust and confidence remain at the heart of West Midlands policing.”
Following a comprehensive upgrade to over 30 armouries across the region and specialised training at West Midlands Police’s Tally Ho! Tactical Training Centre, training for specially trained officers began earlier this month.
