More than guidelines needed for tasers

Taser is one of those words that just seem to slip into the vocabulary through use and acceptance. So much so that it almost sounds like a household appliance -although it still manages to defy your average spellchecker.

Evolved from electric cattle-prod technology in the US, the handheld electroshock weapon designed to incapacitate a single person from a distance is in use with numerous UK police forces.

The technical blurb provided by the makers is descriptive to say the least:

An extremely powerful weapon that drops assailants to the ground from a safe distance of 15 feet away. A CO2 cartridge fires two electrified projectiles into the subject with the same type of power as an air gun. These projectiles become imbedded in the attacker and are effective in penetrating up to 2.5 inches of heavy clothing including heavy leather jackets. The barbed projectiles remain attached to the assailant and are connected to the weapon by high voltage insulated wire.

50,000 Volts, 18 Watts and 133 Milliamps of measured power is instantly discharged into the subject. The electrical discharge pulses in a revolutionary new method of advanced EMD power (Electro-Muscular Disruption)that no subject has ever been able to overcome. The EMD power surge instantly disrupts the central nervous system and results in the subject falling to the ground in spasms of involuntary muscular convulsions.

Undoubtedly effective in pacifying violent individuals considered by police officers to be a danger to themselves and others, police are also said to see the device as more precise – and a lot less messy – than the pepper spray issued to some forces. On-line witnesses claim a man who had threatened to slash his throat at a Swansea Tesco store yesterday was subdued using the device although this is unconfirmed.

The weapon is not without its scare stories in the US of targeted individuals bursting into flames after ‘excessive’ hits. A report into the multiple use of a Taser by Nottinghamshire police to stun a man has backed the actions of officers on the scene but concerns remain.

Officially, the devices are being ‘trialled’ throughout the UK with extensions in various forces. Latest available statistics show that Tasers were used 169 times and discharged 36 times by specially trained units in the period from 1 April 2009 to 30 June 2009. However, watchdog organisation TASER.ORG.UK is concerned that increasing numbers of ineligible officers (i.e. non-firearms trained) are being equipped with the “electric cosh”. Strathclyde police are the first force in Scotland to see Tasers for ordinary beat officers and although there is emphasis on guidelines, the move has been condemned.

Operational opinion seems to vary between the four Welsh police forces. North Wales police last year defended to use of a Taser to stop a 15 year old boy smashing up furniture in his home whilst Gwent, a pilot force since 2007, specifically see the device as a tactical weapon for use by trained firearms officers.

Liberty have long been arguing that the Taser is becoming a routine item of police equipment rather than an emergency measures but no-one seems to be listening anymore.

It remains to be seen to what extent the use of ‘non-lethal’ equipment to disable suspects actually finds its way onto the respective election platforms but it’s an issue on which the government has so far been unable to give a definitive lead.

Late update: EP carries confirmation of Tesco incident.

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(MK)