Metropolitan police to roll out Tasers in response cars across London

January 18, 2013 by legitgov

Metropolitan police to roll out Tasers in response cars across London --Plan to cover all boroughs will increase number of stun guns from 800 to more than 6,500 17 Jan 2013 The Metropolitan police is spending more than £800,000 a year on equipping response vehicles in London with Tasers, despite growing concern among human rights campaigners and some politicians over their use. A question to the mayor's office for policing and crime by Jenny Jones, assembly member for the Greens, reveals the budget for the weapons will be £817,864 a year during the first stage of the rollout, which will eventually equip response vehicles with Tasers in each of the capital's 32 boroughs. Met commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has said he wants to see the stun guns in everyday use by response cars - a change in policy from their previous use, which was restricted to specialist firearms officers and TSG officers.