FIVE hundred more police officers are to undergo Taser training after a rise in the number of assaults on cops.
Almost 970 attacks on officers have been recorded so far this year, compared with 760 in 2016.
Police Scotland said the number of incidents involving a confrontation with a bladed weapon are also up.
Currently, only firearms officers are authorised to use Tasers but the newly trained officers will be part of normal shifts.
The move goes before the Scottish Police Authority board on Tuesday.
The force claims that allowing more officers to carry the Home Office- approved Taser X2 device will also “improve the safety of the public”.
Deputy Chief Constable Johnny Gwynne said: “Our officers are facing increasing threats of violence from people with knives and other bladed weapons.
“We’ve also seen an increase in the number of officers attacked while carrying out their everyday duties.
“We will shortly begin the selection process for around 500 conventional uniformed officers to be trained to carry Tasers.
“These officers will be deployed at the heart of local policing in all 13 divisions across Scotland, helping to keep their colleagues and the public safe and bringing Police Scotland into line with forces throughout the UK.
“Ultimately, this move is about keeping the public safe.”
Gwynne said the Taser training was not in response to any terrorist threat but that it could provide an extra layer of security before firearms officers can reach the scene.
Training will begin in May, with the officers deployed in both rural and urban areas across all 13 divisions by August.
Greens justice spokesperson John Finnie, a former police officer, said: “Many people will be alarmed rather than reassured by these changes. Slowly but surely we see the balance tipping from largely defensive equipment to the deployment of overtly offensive equipment.
“This mission creep is ongoing towards a fully armed police service which will be remote from the public. The Scottish Greens do not support these changes.”
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