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Commenting in response to a report published by Amnesty International UK today, (Tuesday) warning of the dangers of Taser, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) stressed that Taser is only used by specially trained Police firearms officers in circumstances in which the use of conventional weapons would otherwise be authorised.
The Taser technology was trialled by five police forces for more than a year before the Home Office agreed to make the weapon available to all Chief Constables in September this year. The British police service sought the introduction of Taser as a non-lethal option for police officers.
Before that trail went ahead, DOMILL, an independent sub-committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council, produced a report on Taser, which concluded that although its effect on special population groups, such as people with cardiac problems, should be examined further, it was not essential from a medical perspective that these studies were completed before the operational trial.
On the basis of the info available from the US, DOMILL decided that there was no evidence to link the use of Taser as a cause to any death or injury.
Derek Talbot, ACPO spokesman on Taser and Assistant Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, said:
“Taser was rigorously scrutinised and evaluated during its trial period and continues to be so now it is in operational use. The British police service sought to introduce Taser because it is an option that advances human rights – its use may be more proportionate than the use of a firearm in certain circumstances and gives officers the opportunity to incapacitate and overpower, rather than lethally injure someone.
“The Police Service nationally is constantly seeking less lethal options to resolve dangerous situations safely and without injury to any person, and the Taser provides officers with another tool use of which may be more appropriate than a conventional firearm in certain circumstances.
“We believe that Taser ultimately reduces the risk to officers, offenders and members of the public.”
The Taser technology has been rigorously tested by the Police Scientific Development Branch and a medical assessment has been carried out by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
Taser has now been discharged 108 times by British Police. In each case, the use of the Taser has brought a serious incident to a safe conclusion with no lasting injury to either the subject, the police officers involved or members of the public. Any person hit by Taser is offered a referral to an independent medical practitioner.
In a public opinion survey carried out following the trial, where 1,164 people were interviewed, 90 per cent of respondents thought that firearms officers and specially-trained officers should be allowed to use Taser.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS;
• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7227 3406/3425 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours). Further information including copies of recent news releases can also be found on website ‘www.acpo.police.uk’.
• Through a series of committees and working groups ACPO members, often in consultation with other groups, develop policy and guidance for the police service. The Association aims to assist chief officers in providing excellence in leadership of the service; to ensure a professional and ethical service is delivered to all communities; and to provide professional advice to Government, Police Authorities, other organisations and individuals with an interest in policing issues.
• ACPO’s 292 members are; police officers of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, and senior non-police managers, in the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus national agencies such as NCIS and the National Crime Squad, and other forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police.
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