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Concerns over Taser gun roll-out Concerns over Taser gun roll-out
(about 3 hours later)
Concerns have been raised for public safety as Taser stun guns are made available to more police officers in England and Wales.Concerns have been raised for public safety as Taser stun guns are made available to more police officers in England and Wales.
Officers in 10 forces, who are not firearms specialists, will be able to use the 50,000-volt Tasers to protect themselves or the public.Officers in 10 forces, who are not firearms specialists, will be able to use the 50,000-volt Tasers to protect themselves or the public.
But Amnesty International fears police using the weapons in the one-year trial may not have been properly trained. Amnesty International fears police using the weapons in the one-year trial may not be properly trained.
The Police Federation said Tasers were becoming necessary on the frontline. The Home Office says officers will undergo a rigorous selection procedure.
Until now, about 3,000 Tasers had been issued in Britain, but only to members of police firearms units.Until now, about 3,000 Tasers had been issued in Britain, but only to members of police firearms units.
How does a Taser work?How does a Taser work?
Firearms officers could only use them when confronted by an armed attacker, but their powers were extended in July to include incidents of severe violence or threats.Firearms officers could only use them when confronted by an armed attacker, but their powers were extended in July to include incidents of severe violence or threats.
Electric shocksElectric shocks
Now officers from other units will be able to use Tasers, which can temporarily disable a suspect. Now officers from other units will be able to use Tasers, which temporarily disable a suspect.
The Tasers deliver powerful electric shocks and are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to regular police weapons. The Tasers deliver powerful electric shocks and are intended to be a less lethal alternative to regular police weapons.
You need trained firearms officers who not only know how to fire a Taser but know when to fire a Taser Mike BlakemoreAmnesty International The Home Office said officers would not be routinely equipped with Tasers.
Instead, there would be a selection procedure and only specially trained officers who completed a training programme approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) would be issued with one.
A Home Office spokeswoman said every deployment of a Taser was monitored and a report produced.
You need trained firearms officers who not only know how to fire a Taser but know when to fire a Taser Mike BlakemoreAmnesty International Q&A: Taser stun gun
Since their introduction in April 2003 to July 2007, Tasers have been used in more than 800 incidents, she said.
Before approving this latest trial, the Home Office ordered a medical assessment of the weapon by a special committee and it found "the risk of death or serious injury from Tasers remains low".
But Amnesty International said stun guns were potentially lethal and there had been numerous deaths in the US because they have been misused.But Amnesty International said stun guns were potentially lethal and there had been numerous deaths in the US because they have been misused.
Spokesman Mike Blakemore said: "The police have a very difficult job to do and they need to protect themselves and they need to protect the public.Spokesman Mike Blakemore said: "The police have a very difficult job to do and they need to protect themselves and they need to protect the public.
"You need trained firearms officers who not only know how to fire a Taser but know when to fire a Taser. These are potentially very dangerous weapons.""You need trained firearms officers who not only know how to fire a Taser but know when to fire a Taser. These are potentially very dangerous weapons."
He said firearms officers underwent continuous training for real-life situations, with training repeated every month to keep them up to date.He said firearms officers underwent continuous training for real-life situations, with training repeated every month to keep them up to date.
TASER PILOT SCHEME FORCES Avon and SomersetDevon and CornwallGwentLincolnshireMerseysideMetropolitan Police ServiceNorthamptonshireNorthumbriaNorth WalesWest Yorkshire
"What we do not know is exactly what the nature of the training is that non-firearms officers will receive," he said."What we do not know is exactly what the nature of the training is that non-firearms officers will receive," he said.
"And we're concerned that it won't be up to the same standard.""And we're concerned that it won't be up to the same standard."
TASER PILOT SCHEME FORCES Avon and SomersetDevon and CornwallGwentLincolnshireMerseysideMetropolitan Police ServiceNorthamptonshireNorthumbriaNorth WalesWest Yorkshire
Former Scotland Yard commander John O' Connor told BBC News 24 he believed extending the number of officers using Tasers was dangerous because officers were not being properly trained.Former Scotland Yard commander John O' Connor told BBC News 24 he believed extending the number of officers using Tasers was dangerous because officers were not being properly trained.
He said by giving out Taser guns "indiscriminately to untrained officers" there was a risk they would be used far too indiscriminately.He said by giving out Taser guns "indiscriminately to untrained officers" there was a risk they would be used far too indiscriminately.
"What they should be doing is every single recruit that comes in should be firearms trained," he said."What they should be doing is every single recruit that comes in should be firearms trained," he said.
"Then I wouldn't have any qualms at all about issuing those officers with a Taser gun, as required."
Death in DurhamDeath in Durham
Previously Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, has said his members welcomed an expansion of Taser use. Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said his members welcomed an expansion of Taser use.
"If there is a need to use force then in some circumstances it would be better to use a Taser," he said."If there is a need to use force then in some circumstances it would be better to use a Taser," he said.
"It's not fair to compare us with US-style policing. You won't see people tasered for traffic offences. Officers will use it responsibly. At the moment they have a baton and CS gas. "It's not fair to compare us with US-style policing. You won't see people 'tasered' for traffic offences. Officers will use it responsibly.
"There is no long-term effect with Taser. But if someone is batoned or [gassed] there are long-term effects." "At the moment they have a baton and CS gas. There is no long-term effect with Taser. But if someone is batoned or [gassed] there are long-term effects."
In October 2006, 47-year-old Brian Loan died several days after being shot by a Taser by police in County Durham. A coroner later recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, attributing his death to heart disease. He called for training to be as rigorous as possible for the safety of officers and the public.
His sister, Barbara Hodgson, refused to accept the Taser was not to blame for his death and told a local paper: "The evidence might not exist at the minute, but I am sure we will be proved right as more cases come to light." In 2006, Brian Loan, 47, died several days after being shot by a Taser in County Durham.
A coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, attributing his death to heart disease, but his sister, Barbara Hodgson, refused to accept the Taser was not to blame and said future cases would prove her right.
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