Three in five Scots back police officers carrying tasers, Scottish Police Federation poll finds

Almost three in five Scots back all police officers being given Tasers, with the body that represents rank-and-file officers insisting the devices make policemen and women safer.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) called for a wider rollout of Tasers in its manifesto ahead of Thursday’s Holyrood election.

SPF general secretary David Kennedy said any officer on operational duties on Scotland’s streets should have one “so they can defend themselves and members of the public”.

He spoke out as a poll for justice and home affairs magazine 1919 found that 28% of Scots “strongly agree” that all police officers in Scotland should be supplied with a Taser and trained in how to use it, with a further 31% agreeing.

Only 7% of people “strongly disagreed” with giving all officers Tasers, while 10% disagreed with the proposal.

Mr Kennedy said the results showed “the public understand the pressures and the violence police officers are facing”.

He added: “The message to the parties is the public back police officers having access to a Taser.

“Any officer who is operational should have access to one on the street so they can defend themselves and members of the public.”

Police in London recently used Tasers as they arrested a man accused of carrying out a knife attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green.

Latest figures show Scotland had 16,416 full-time equivalent police officers at the end of December, but only around 2,000 are trained in the use of Tasers.

With attacks on police increasing 6.3% to 7,159 in 2024-25, Mr Kennedy said having the devices makes officers “safer and allows them to react when required”.

He added that giving the devices to more officers would “also hopefully reduce the number of assaults on police officers”.

Mr Kennedy said “there’s often no back-up for officers” when situations occur, adding that “offenders are more willing to attack police officers”.

He added: “That’s not acceptable. We need to make sure police officers have the proper equipment to defend themselves and the communities in Scotland.”

Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan, of Police Scotland’s operational support division, said: “Police Scotland has a duty to protect life and ensure the safety of police officers and the public and the use of Taser gives officers an additional tactical option.

“Following a rise in officer assaults, we increased the number of specially trained officers to 2,000.”

Stressing that that Police Scotland “acknowledge the survey results and the views of the public” he added that Chief Constable Jo Farrell has been “clear in our ambitions for the future of policing that a further rollout should be considered to strengthen the frontline and deliver safer communities”.

Mr Dolan stated: “The decision to use Taser is based on the particular circumstances of the incident following an assessment of the threat and risk being faced by the officer or public.

“It is vital that the threat and risk posed is the primary consideration.

“Tasers protect the public and emergency service workers from violent individuals and the mere presence of the device is often enough to de-escalate situations.

“It is also highly effective in situations where people may not only harm officers but may be intent on harming themselves.

“Taser will only be used when it’s proportionate, necessary and justified and we have a robust training programme to ensure those specially trained officers provided with Taser know how to use it safely and in the correct circumstances.”