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| Police in firing line over growing use of Tasers | Police in firing line over growing use of Tasers |
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| The use of Tasers by police in England and Wales has more than doubled to 7,250 deployments a year, new figures will reveal this week, raising fresh concern about the risks to the public of more widespread use of the devices. | The use of Tasers by police in England and Wales has more than doubled to 7,250 deployments a year, new figures will reveal this week, raising fresh concern about the risks to the public of more widespread use of the devices. |
| Senior police officers are bracing themselves for criticism when figures on the rise in Taser use across the country are released by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday. They will show deployment of the weapons has risen from around 3,500 in 2009 to 14,500 in the two years 2010 and 2011 – 7,250 a year. | Senior police officers are bracing themselves for criticism when figures on the rise in Taser use across the country are released by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday. They will show deployment of the weapons has risen from around 3,500 in 2009 to 14,500 in the two years 2010 and 2011 – 7,250 a year. |
| Senior police officers are also under growing pressure over use of the weapon as a stun gun – the cartridge is removed and is thrust into an individual's body in a move designed to inflict pain. Its deployment in the "drive-stun" method is at the centre of a critical review into Tasers being carried out by the police watchdog and police are being told to dramatically reduce the frequency of such deployments. | Senior police officers are also under growing pressure over use of the weapon as a stun gun – the cartridge is removed and is thrust into an individual's body in a move designed to inflict pain. Its deployment in the "drive-stun" method is at the centre of a critical review into Tasers being carried out by the police watchdog and police are being told to dramatically reduce the frequency of such deployments. |
| The rise in Taser use comes after the Home Office began rolling out 5,500 new weapons to forces across the country in 2008 after changes allowed the weapons to be used by non-specialist police officers after three days' training rather than only by specially trained firearms officers. | The rise in Taser use comes after the Home Office began rolling out 5,500 new weapons to forces across the country in 2008 after changes allowed the weapons to be used by non-specialist police officers after three days' training rather than only by specially trained firearms officers. |
| Currently, 11% of police officers – 14,700 – are armed with Tasers. | Currently, 11% of police officers – 14,700 – are armed with Tasers. |
| Simon Chesterman, the Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) spokesman on armed police, said the rise in deployments corresponded to the increase in weapons being rolled out across the country, and did not represent Tasers being used more often. Taser "use" in the figures covers drawing the weapon but not firing, aiming the weapon and engaging the red light on the suspect, using in the drive stun mode and firing the Taser – which happens in only around 25% of cases, according to Acpo. Chesterman said Tasers were an important piece of equipment used to defuse violent situations and minimise harm to the public and police officers. | Simon Chesterman, the Association of Chief Police Officers' (Acpo) spokesman on armed police, said the rise in deployments corresponded to the increase in weapons being rolled out across the country, and did not represent Tasers being used more often. Taser "use" in the figures covers drawing the weapon but not firing, aiming the weapon and engaging the red light on the suspect, using in the drive stun mode and firing the Taser – which happens in only around 25% of cases, according to Acpo. Chesterman said Tasers were an important piece of equipment used to defuse violent situations and minimise harm to the public and police officers. |
| "These figures show the use of Taser has increased in line with the rollout of more weapons. There will be concerns raised by individuals that don't necessarily understand the underlying causes of the increase and there will be people raising concerns over this who don't agree with the police having Taser," he said. | "These figures show the use of Taser has increased in line with the rollout of more weapons. There will be concerns raised by individuals that don't necessarily understand the underlying causes of the increase and there will be people raising concerns over this who don't agree with the police having Taser," he said. |
| "I would argue that there are more valid concerns around drive-stun and around Taser use on vulnerable people than on these figures." Use of Tasers in the "drive-stun" method was "an area of high scrutiny" for the police and something senior officers were looking at." | "I would argue that there are more valid concerns around drive-stun and around Taser use on vulnerable people than on these figures." Use of Tasers in the "drive-stun" method was "an area of high scrutiny" for the police and something senior officers were looking at." |
| Police are also under pressure over Taser deployments against vulnerable individuals. Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was not laying charges against an officer who deployed a Taser against Colin Farmer, 63, a blind man who was Tasered by a constable in Lancashire. The officer now faces a gross misconduct hearing. In April, 32-year-old Andrew Pimlott – who had doused himself in petrol and was threatening to kill himself – died in a fireball after police fired a Taser at him outside his home in Plymouth, Devon. | Police are also under pressure over Taser deployments against vulnerable individuals. Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was not laying charges against an officer who deployed a Taser against Colin Farmer, 63, a blind man who was Tasered by a constable in Lancashire. The officer now faces a gross misconduct hearing. In April, 32-year-old Andrew Pimlott – who had doused himself in petrol and was threatening to kill himself – died in a fireball after police fired a Taser at him outside his home in Plymouth, Devon. |
| "I have great concerns when I hear of stories for example of a 12-year-old being Tasered or an elderly person or someone suffering from ill health," said Chesterman. "When we drill down into what's happened in most of the cases, however, we do find the use of Taser was justified under the circumstances. Taser is often used where people are self-harming to stop them self-harming, potentially saving their lives." | "I have great concerns when I hear of stories for example of a 12-year-old being Tasered or an elderly person or someone suffering from ill health," said Chesterman. "When we drill down into what's happened in most of the cases, however, we do find the use of Taser was justified under the circumstances. Taser is often used where people are self-harming to stop them self-harming, potentially saving their lives." |
| But Amnesty International UK's director, Kate Allen, said the human rights organisation had serious concerns over the lack of training for ordinary officers who were now being handed the weapons. | But Amnesty International UK's director, Kate Allen, said the human rights organisation had serious concerns over the lack of training for ordinary officers who were now being handed the weapons. |
| "A Taser is a potentially lethal weapon," said Allen. "It is not a little tingle, it is 50,000 volts. It should not be seen as a natural extension to a police officer's equipment. Tasers should only be kept in the hands of a small number of specially trained officers and used only in a very limited set of circumstances. | "A Taser is a potentially lethal weapon," said Allen. "It is not a little tingle, it is 50,000 volts. It should not be seen as a natural extension to a police officer's equipment. Tasers should only be kept in the hands of a small number of specially trained officers and used only in a very limited set of circumstances. |
| "Firearms officers get months and months of training and are constantly reassessed and refreshed. A Taser-trained officer gets just three days and at best an annual one-day refresher. With an increasing rollout, that anomaly needs to be rectified.Otherwise, the potential for disaster will grow." | "Firearms officers get months and months of training and are constantly reassessed and refreshed. A Taser-trained officer gets just three days and at best an annual one-day refresher. With an increasing rollout, that anomaly needs to be rectified.Otherwise, the potential for disaster will grow." |
| A review to be published soon by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the use of Tasers is focusing on their use in the drive-stun mode, deployment in confined spaces and use against vulnerable individuals. | A review to be published soon by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the use of Tasers is focusing on their use in the drive-stun mode, deployment in confined spaces and use against vulnerable individuals. |
| Deborah Glass, deputy chair of the IPCC, said: "We have specific concerns about some of the ways and circumstances in which [Taser] is used. We have expressed concerns to Acpo about the use of Taser in the drive-stun method." | Deborah Glass, deputy chair of the IPCC, said: "We have specific concerns about some of the ways and circumstances in which [Taser] is used. We have expressed concerns to Acpo about the use of Taser in the drive-stun method." |
| To date, no deaths in the UK have been attributed directly to use of the device. | To date, no deaths in the UK have been attributed directly to use of the device. |
| Jules Carey, a lawyer who represents several clients taking action against the police over Taser use, said: "There is a real concern around training and judgment. The worry is that Tasers may become the default method of restraint rather than being used as nearly lethal force to prevent serious crime." | Jules Carey, a lawyer who represents several clients taking action against the police over Taser use, said: "There is a real concern around training and judgment. The worry is that Tasers may become the default method of restraint rather than being used as nearly lethal force to prevent serious crime." |
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