Police officers to protect the Royals with taser stun guns
By ANISunday, February 6, 2011
LONDON - In a bid to protect the Royal family from protestors, police officers are being issued with controversial taser stun guns.
The action is being taken following the attack on Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, by student protesters last year.
The officers are to be given the “non-lethal” option to supplement the conventional firearms that they carry at all times while guarding VIPs.
Members of the Diplomatic Protection Squad, who guard the Prime Minister and other dignitaries, will also be issued with the stun guns, which fire a dart into a suspect, which can then deliver an electric charge of 50,000 volts.
After a review of the Royal Protection Squad’s procedures, commanders have been told to use the option to arm officers with X26 Tasers to allow “informed decisions on firearms deployment”.
Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed “all armed units” in the Metropolitan Police now had “access to this less lethal option”.
“A decision was made that carriage of Taser when required should no longer be an option,” the Telegraph quoted the spokesman as saying. (ANI)
