Every police officer in the UK will be armed with a Taser within three years due to "worrying" levels of violence, a chief constable has predicted.
Northamptonshire Police chief Nick Adderley told Sky News he believes the stun guns will be issued as standard protective equipment, alongside batons and handcuffs, to deter people from attacking officers.
It comes after his force recorded a near-50% increase in assaults on police officers in the last two years. "What's more worrying is the level of violence towards police officers and police staff," Mr Adderley said.
"I've made the prediction that, probably within the next three years, Tasers will be considered as personal protective equipment and it would be issued alongside batons, gas and 'cuffs.
"As we see society changing, and unless there's going to be major U-turn over the next couple of years, I actually think it's right and proper... there has to be a reaction and a consequence to the level of violence towards emergency service workers, particularly police officers."
Mr Adderley said he has been considering making Northamptonshire Police the first UK force to arm all its front-line officers with Tasers, which he expected would cost £220,000.
He told Sky News the move would make "fiscal sense" as officers had been off sick for up to four years after being attacked.
He said he would prioritise arming officers who respond to 999 and 101 calls and neighbourhood officers who often work alone in "isolated areas".'
Read more: Every police officer in UK 'will have Taser to tackle rise in violence' (as David Icke predicted when they were introduced)
