POLICE WATCH: Guns and taser in Cheshire Police HQ (From Warrington Guardian)

POLICE WATCH: Guns and taser in Cheshire Police HQ

9:39pm Friday 30th October 2009 in News

SHOTGUNS, pistols and rubber bullet launchers are some of the weaponry carried by the firearms officers based at Cheshire Police HQ in Winsford.

Highly trained police officers, the firearms squad attend the most dangerous emergencies ranging from armed robberies and hostage situations to other weapons crimes.

The officers use their judgement to decide which method of disarmament is most appropriate whether it is rubber bullets fired by the launchers or taser - stun guns packing a 50,000 volt electric charge that disables offenders for five seconds allowing for enough time for offenders to be handcuffed without causing them injury.

Firearms officers also provide support to other patrols from the traffic unit using the inbuilt cameras in their cars to check registration plates for motorists flouting driving laws and vehicles used by criminals using the motorway network to helping trace offenders using specialist heat seeking infra-red binoculars.

In addition, the highly specialist officers are trained in first aid, primarily to be able to give medical help to those injured by gunfire in situations where it is too dangerous for paramedics to attend.

Watch out for the full report in Thursday's Warrington Guardian where you can read about other units operating out of police headquarters including covert intelligence groups, dog handlers and forensics.