Bobby Singleton: PSNI to increase number of officers carrying tasers

One of Northern Ireland’s top police officers has said that the service will take steps to increase the number of teams carrying tasers.

It comes after 850 assaults on officers were reported from 6 September 2025 to 6 September 2026.

The Police Federation of Northern Ireland has welcomed the plans and has urged the service to move at pace given the “extent of assaults”.

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said officers may use tasers to “protect themselves and their colleagues but also to protect the public and prevent harm to individuals”.

“Whilst legislation permits the use of reasonable force by officers where necessary to carry out their role, it can only be used when it is lawful, proportionate, and reasonable in the circumstances,” Singleton said.

The PSNI, however, has said that force data, does not highlight the need for Conductive Energy Devices (CEDs) to be routinely carried by all officers.

The assaults on officers reported are provisional, meaning that the number of assaults could be higher than what is recorded at the time.

In August, seven police officers were assaulted during five separate incidents whilst on duty.

On Monday night, officers were attacked in the Waterside area of Londonderry and in a separate incident on Saturday night in Derry, a police officer was headbutted and was left with a significant facial injury during an arrest of a man.

Speaking on the Nolan Show, Singleton added that the devices are kept “under regular review”.