Robin Smith said ‘discussions were ongoing’ about issuing more uniformed officers with the devices, but any final decision would only be made with the backing of the States Assembly and government.
Currently, 31 of the force’s near-200 officers are authorised to carry Tasers. In recent months UK forces have announced plans to increase the number of officers who carry the devices.
Last summer Northamptonshire Police announced it would be the first force in the UK to arm all its frontline officers with the electric stun guns. It followed the death of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed when he responded to a burglary. Henry Long (18) from Mortimer, Reading, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey but denies murder.
Days later Northamptonshire Police was joined by a second force, Durham Constabulary, which said every frontline officer who wanted a Taser would undergo training.
Mr Smith, the former Assistant Chief Constable for the British Transport Police, said: ‘One of the most important things is the safety of staff and officers. It’s not that long ago we were discussing the introduction of Tasers at all and since then we have seen them become normal over the past ten years.
‘Are Tasers protection for the public or for the officer? What Tasers do is provide is a less-lethal option and very often even by it being drawn it can diffuse a situation.
‘Certainly that [providing more officers with Tasers] is part of an ongoing discussion, but any decision would be made with the backing of the States Assembly.’
In 2018, the latest available figures, armed officers in Jersey ‘upholstered’ Taser devices on 25 occasions. They were discharged twice.
A Taser works by delivering high-voltage (50,000 volts) — but low amperage — shock to the body. Two barbs – attached to the Taser – fire out of the device and pierce the target and then administer the shock.
In Jersey all uniformed officers carry PAVA [pepper] spray and an ASP expandable baton.
Increasing the number of Taser-carrying officers in the UK has been supported by the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers.
However, some chiefs and human rights groups have raised concerns about the impact the weapons have on trust in the police.
Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson (48) died after being Tasered in a Telford street in August 2016. A serving police officer was charged with one count of murder while another officer has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm. Neither defendant has been named.
