Taser devices will be issued to British Transport Police (BTP) officers in Scotland over the next few weeks, in a move that brings security on Scotland’s rail network in line with the rest of the UK.

BTP insists that the decision hasn’t been sparked by any specific event or threat. However, with a ‘severe’ threat of international terrorism to the UK, they say that officers will be better equipped to protect the public or themselves by using force where required.

The introduction of taser devices was deemed “a proportion response” to the highly likely threat of terrorism, said BTP temporary assistant chief constable Alun Thomas.

A taser device was used to prevent a man from slicing a random stranger’s throat during a religiously-motivated attack at east London’s Leytonstone station in December 2015.

“Undoubtedly the use of the taser in this incident prevented even further harm to the travelling public,” said Mr Thomas.

“We believe that the public in Scotland deserve the same level of protection as people elsewhere on the rail network.”