TASERS ON FRONTLINE

NEARLY 130 frontline officers have been armed with tasers as part of a six-month pilot programme.

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

Gardai confirmed 128 cops from four stations – three in Dublin and one in Waterford - will take part in the trial.

One of the main reasons the devices are being rolled out is to protect officers following an increase in attacks, particularly after the pandemic, with figures revealing an average of 299 members are assaulted each year.

This reached a record of 470 in 2023, before figures in 2024 stabilised.

Gardai from Store Street, Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Waterford Garda Stations are all taking part in the pilot.

But Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary declared the move was not about "changing the culture of Irish policing" and stressed it was all about "preventing harm".

Speaking yesterday, the top cop said: "Every day, frontline Gardai respond to fast-moving, unpredictable incidents. Almost all are resolved calmly.

"But some can turn volatile very quickly - situations where somebody is armed, distressed, intoxicated, or experiencing a severe mental health crisis.

"In some of those scenarios, gardai have to make instant decisions to protect the public, protect the person in crisis and to protect themselves."

He continued: "The taser pilot is about specially trained gardai, a controlled, less lethal option when every approach has failed or isn't safe.

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