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6 months ago
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The Police Federation has today issued fresh calls for more officers to be armed with Tasers, after first responders to the terrifying sword attack in London were reportedly not equipped with the devices.
The official body, representing all police ranks, says every officer who wants a Taser should be given one in the wake of the the Hainault sword attack which left a 14-year-old boy dead.
Around 7,500 of the Met's 34,000 police officers are trained to use the electronic devices.
But the incident yesterday, in which two police officers were wounded in the samurai-sword attack, has led to fresh calls for an increase in taser numbers.
According to The Telegraph, it is thought the first local officers on the scene were 'not equipped with the devices' when they tried to tackle the attacker.
The Police Federation claims a Taser is not fired in 85 per cent of cases but acts as an 'effective' which helps protect communities as well as officers from assaults.
Footage from a doorbell camera of police officers tasering a sword-wielding man in Hainault, north east London
A 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the attack in Hainault, north east London
The suspect, clad in a yellow hoodie, was seen prowling the streets and climbing onto rooftops yesterday after dumping a van 100 metres away in a cul-de-sac at around 7am.
Police swarmed the area of Laing Close after receiving reports that a van had driven into a property. Residents were to remain in their homes until the suspect was caught.
A 14-year-old schoolboy, named locally as Joshua, was allegedly leaving his home to go to school when he was caught in the mayhem.
Witnesses claimed the boy 'died on the spot' after being hit in the head with a sword nearly 2ft in length.
Graphic footage shared online shows the suspect pulling the boy into the road after fatally injuring him as horrified neighbours watched on.
A man 'wielding a machete' was seen 'prowling the streets of east London'
Police were scrambled to the scene following reports that a car had driven into a property
Eyewitnesses said that the suspect was tasered and arrested in a back garden
The nightmare was brought to an end when the suspect wielding the huge weapon was tasered by hero unarmed police officers, with the dramatic arrest being caught on CCTV.
In order to carry a Taser, police officers must pass a four-day intensive training course and undergo regular refreshers with personal safety and first-aid.
In 2016, the Police Federation commissioned a survey of public opinion on Taser.
It showed that 71 per cent of respondents consider it acceptable for police officers to carry Tasers when on patrol, while 89 per cent said forces should be allowed to train and equip officers.
The Police Federation has said it will continue to lobby the government for more funding for Tasers.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Kier Starmer yesterday led the tributes to the victims of the shocking day-light attack.
Police officers and forensics at the scene yesterday where a 14-year-old boy was killed
Mr Bell said the suspect had been tasered at the scene and arrested 22 minutes after the first call to police was made
Mr Sunak said the Hainault stabbings were 'shocking', adding that 'such violence has no place on our streets'.
Speaking at the Society of Editors conference in central London, he said: 'I'd like to give my thanks to the emergency teams that are responding and to pay tribute to their bravery.'
And King Charles last night 'saluted' the courage of the police officers who worked to bring the violence to an end.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'Following the horrific scenes in Hainault this morning, the King has asked to be kept fully informed as details of the incident become clearer.
'His thoughts and prayers are with all those affect – in particular, the family of the young victim who has lost his wife – and he salutes the courage of the emergency services who helped contain the situation.'
Reacting to the tragic developments, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'I'm sure I speak for the entire city when I say our thoughts are with this young child and his family.
'It breaks my heart not only that this child has lost his life, but two members of our emergency services have risked their own safety to make sure others weren't injured.
'It shows the danger our police officers face every day and I thank them for their bravery.'
When pushed on whether knife crime had got 'out of control' under his premiership, the mayoral candidate said he hadn't thought about the election since he heard of Tuesday morning's incident and his focus was on those caught up in the event.
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