Minchin continued: “The police federation say that they strongly support the wider roll out of tasers to all front line officers should they wish to be equipped with it, they want you to go further.”
Patel added: “Well It’s important to recognise that when it comes to operational policing decisions that it is with the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables in particular are the ones through this fund that will be bidding.
“And they are the strategic individuals that do the risk assessments of the threats that their police officers and their forces are experiencing and they are the ones who have to operationalise the decision for tasers.
“They are the ones who determine whether or not their officers are trained and equipped to use tasers and receive tasers.”
BBC Breakfast continues on BBC One tomorrow at 6am.
