MORE police officers across the region will be armed with Tasers amid growing levels of violence on the streets.

Thames Valley Police is set for a 50 per cent increase in the handheld weapons, which are designed to temporarily incapacitate a suspect through the use of an electrical current.

The announcement is being viewed as a success by TVP Federation chairman Craig O'Leary, who sees the devices as vital in keeping both the public and officers safe.

He said the use of Tasers is all the more important given the significant reduction of officers faced by police in the region.

Thames Valley Police has experienced a decline of 300 officers since 2010.

PC O'Leary said: “We are being stretched with the decline in numbers so more and more officers are having to cover wider areas often on their own.

“Back up can be further away so to have this piece of kit gives them the confidence that they will be able to handle difficult situations, hopefully without coming to any harm.

“It’s vital in protecting members of the public.”

Around a quarter of officers currently have access to the kit but PC O'Leary would like to see it eventually rolled out to everyone.

Violent crime is on the rise and TVP, like many forces across the country, has seen a gradual increase in the number of assaults on officers.

Across the region, violent crime has risen by 13 per cent in the past year and, just yesterday, the Oxford Mail reported on a surge in the number of people arrested for holding a knife or 'bladed article' in public.

Meanwhile, statistics have revealed that more than half of frontline TVP officers would be prepared to carry a firearm - but PC O'Leary does not think British police should head down that road.

He continued: “We’re not at a stage where all officers can be equipped with Tasers yet as the funding issues nationally haven't been addressed and as we all know there isn’t any more money coming in.

“Perhaps that’s affecting the number of officers who would be prepared to carry a firearm.

“I would myself, but I don’t think we, as a national police force, are in a situation where all officers should be routinely armed.

“For me, having armed officers available as a back up is the right way of doing things.”