Statement by TUV Bannside councillor Timothy Gaston:
“The decision of the Policing Board to reject the recommendation of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary that PSNI officers have access to taser demands an explanation from the Board and the parties represented on it.
“This is a deplorable decision which shows an appalling lack of confidence in our police officers and denies them access to what could prove to be a lifesaving deterrent. At a time when police numbers have been cut to the bone and have well below the level recommended by Patton for years this news is a kick in the teeth for officers.
“If the issue is lack of training in the use of taser surely provision should be made for the necessary training. Officers here should be able to employ something which is already available to their colleagues in the rest of the U.K.
“We need a Policing Board which stands up for the rights of officers but it seems that all too often they are more concerned about the rights of offenders. Don’t forget that in addition to this the Board recently floated the idea that officers would have their personal protection weapons removed.
“Both the Board and the Chief Constable need to come clean on where they stand on this matter and why they take the view they have adopted.”