Poll: Should all police officers be equipped with Tasers?

Those are the views of Police Federation officials who are set for crunch talks over the soaring number of West Midlands officers being assaulted.

West Midlands Police is currently reviewing operational personal safety training to see whether adjustments can be made to reduce assaults although this is not a direct result of the current figures.

Concern about the number of police on patrol alone at night was increased by a savage attack on an officer who was stamped on the neck, punched and kicked while answering a call on his own in Walsall during the early hours last week.

He is understood to have been saved from an even worse beating when a member of the public stepped in to help. A suspect is currently on bail pending further inquiries.

Latest figures show that up to last week 22 per cent more police officers had reported being assaulted while on duty this year than over the same period 12 months previously - 318 as compared with 260.

This was in line with the 21 per cent rise in the year to the end of March during which assaults increased from 468 to 567 and included a 43 per cent up turn in the final quarter.

West Midlands Police Federation vice chairman Tom Cuddeford confessed: "The latest figures are disturbing and we believe one of the features contributing to this is the increasing number of single crewed officers.

"Officers are being spread more thinly and there is more demand on their time. When they press for emergency assistance it takes longer for it to arrive.

"Times are tough and we understand it is difficult for the force to balance the books but ultimately we have got to protect our police the best we can so, in turn , they can protect the public."

Pc Pete Harkness, the Police Federation lead on health and safety in the West Midlands, said: "The health, safety and welfare of our officers is paramount. They must be given the right tools, equipment and training in order to fulfil their obligations to protect the public. It should never be the norm that officers go out on the streets expecting to be assaulted.

"We will shortly be meeting to discuss this issue with the force and will be looking for an increase in deployable Taser officers together with more body cameras."

The cameras are currently being trialled in Wolverhampton and South Birmingham. Mr Cuddeford said: "Officers want body cams as a deterrent and protection for themselves as well as transparency for the public."

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said: "Whilst one assault on an officer is one too many, the nature of policing carries some risk. However, in the West Midlands our officers are trained in Personal Safety Techniques.

"They are also suitably equipped to ensure that they are able to discharge their duties as safely as possible in protecting our communities.

"We work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that those who commit assaults on members of West Midlands Police staff are brought to justice."