107 JACK fm Swindon

Safety "Paramount" for officers after police deaths.

A police chief constable says more officers should be given Tasers in the wake of the murders of two policewomen, killed in a gun and grenade attack in Greater Manchester this week.

Wiltshire Chief Constable Patrick Geenty said he was looking into the possibility of increasing the number of stun guns available to officers in his force, despite many nationwide saying they opposed the idea.

In an e-mail to all his officers, Geenty said:

"Every day, I ask you all to go about your duties/work in a professional and caring way but in the back of all of our minds are the potential dangers of policing.

I hope and pray that you will always be safe and I will do my best to ensure that you have the right kit and training to do your job, but tragedy like this reminds me that we can never be entirely safe in our profession.

We bravely put ourselves in harm's way sometimes to protect the public and very occasionally officers pay with their lives.

Although thankfully rare, I am sure you all recognise the risks - and tragic incidents such as what has happened to these two officers remind us of them.

And yet I know that you will continue to serve and protect, which reflects the bravery and professionalism of those within the best police service in the world.

I am sure that you would all wish to join me in extending our deeply felt sympathies to all those affected by this most tragic event."

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