The Royal Gibraltar Police has introduced Taser devices for its frontline armed police officers.

The Taser is a Conducted Energy Device (CED) and is a lesser lethal weapon system designed to temporarily incapacitate a subject through the use of an electrical current which temporarily interferes with the body’s neuromuscular system and produces a sensation of intense pain.

Assistant Commissioner (Designate) Richard Ullger said: “As a result of a joint Firearms Strategic Threat and Risk Assessment on armed policing, and the need to provide armed police officers with less lethal options, the Royal Gibraltar Police has recently acquired Taser for its frontline armed police officers.

“The Taser is one of a number of tactical options available to RGP officers when dealing with an incident with the potential for conflict and has bridged the gap from other tools they use to conventional weapons.”

He further stated that although police forces in England and Wales are now expanding the deployment of Taser to non-armed police officers, the RGP will only routinely deploy it with armed police officers.

Officers issued with Taser have undertaken a College of Police (UK) licensed training event and are assessed on a pass or fail criteria.