Taser

All rank-and-file police officers should be armed with a Taser because of the heightened security threat, the head of the Police Federation has said.

Steve White, chairman of the body which represents front-line officers, said acts of terrorism could be carried out anywhere and police needed to be protected.

He cited the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby near Woolwich Barracks in 2013 as an example of how lone wolf-style attacks could be carried out without guns.

He told The Guardian: "The terrorist ideal to get attention no longer relies on an attack being in a place of note. It could be in Cheam high street, in any town, in any part of the UK.

"We know there are more dangerous people out there, preparing to attack police officers and we need to be able to respond to that threat."

A police cordon is in place around 10 terraced houses in Manchester following the death of a man who was shot with a Taser by police.

A forensic tent was placed in Beard Road within the cordon which was guarded by uniformed officers, a police van and two patrol cars.

A man has died after police shot him with a Taser, Greater Manchester Police said.

The 23-year-old suffered a "medical episode" and died after police shot him with a stun gun. Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said:

Greater Manchester Police has referred itself to the Police Complaints Commission.

A 42-year-old man was Tasered after he was seen pointing a knife at his own throat near Downing Street in London, Scotland Yard said.

He was challenged by police just before 9pm yesterday but failed to respond so the electronic weapon was used.

The man had been shouting in the road and appeared to have a knife that he was pointing at his throat.

He suffered a minor head injury when he fell and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

He was later arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife and affray, and remains in custody.