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400 Met officers trained to use Tasers
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter10.12.07
More than 400 Met police officers have been trained to use Tasers to tackle disorder and alcohol-fuelled violence.
From Monday, the Territorial Support Group officers will be authorised to use the "stun guns", which subdue suspects by giving them an electric shock.
It will be the first time the devices have been used by anyone other than specialist firearms officers.
Although their effects usually last only a few minutes, Tasers have been linked by some objectors to a string of deaths, mostly of people with pre-existing medical conditions.
More than 400 of the TSG's 734 officers have been trained to use the devices for a one-year trial and 18 of the weapons will be available to the squad, which patrols all over the capital from 8am to 4am.
The squad is responsible for maintaining public order at football matches and marches and tackling riots but the Met says the Tasers will not be used at largescale events but on the streets when dealing with violent situations.
Firearms officers began testing Tasers in London in 2003 but the latest move was met with concern by the Metropolitan Police Authority.
Commander Bob Broadhurst, who is in charge of the pilot, said: "I need to reassure them Tasers will benefit the public and will keep them safe."
Currently, TSG officers use batons, CS spray and shields to deal with outbreaks of public disorder.
Mr Broadhurst said: "I expect Tasers to be used sparingly. At the moment our only tactic to tackle the violence is sheer numbers and shields. Taser creates space between the subject and police and reduces the need for physical contact.
"In London we have selected the TSG to take part in the pilot because they are highly trained, work in teams, are often the first respondents to violent situations and are closely supervised, ensuring immediate control at incidents."
MPA deputy leader Cindy Butts said: "We remain worried about the message this sends out to London's communities about the escalation of confrontation and need reassurance that vulnerable people who may behave differently will not be adversely affected.
"However, without the Met participating, this authority will be unable to influence a final decision about future use of the Taser."
STUNNING FACTS
• Tasers deliver electric shocks to temporarily paralyse a target.
• They deliver a five-second 50,000-volt charge.
• The guns have a range of up to 21ft (6.5m).
• When fired, up to 40 ID tags are also released - identifying the firing officer.
• More than 3,000 of the devices have been distributed to firearms officers since 2003
• Critics claim Tasers have been linked to more than 180 deaths around the world.
• Taser stands for Thomas A Swift's Electric Rifle. The weapon was designed in 1969 by US inventor Jack Cover, who named it after the science fiction hero.
Reader views (15)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Peter from NW1, Paul Amery, Jeremiah Neville, Kate from Leicester, Josephine Gaffiero (bet you don't read the Guardian!) and especially Keely (interesting link between Taser and corruption - perhaps you could explain?) - if you have the required nous, feel free to come out on a night duty patrol with me. Then your comments will be put into context. This is an open invitation, so you can experience real life, then subsequently be able to justify your ill-informed views.
- The Urban Jedi, London
About time the police got the proper kit to do the job of protecting the public. These Tasers could save lives - most importantly that of the public, but also of suspects - avoiding the need to use batons or firearms. They will also protect police officers - saving them from having to engage in dangerous physical confrontations with violent suspects.
- Huw Morgan, London, UK
Thanks to the media for bringing about a police state. We should soon be America instead. Colombia your next stop. Corruption and bribery everywhere! T'riffic, very homely!
- Keeley, London
This is really worrying! Londoners have not been consulted on this and I find it outrageous! First CS gas/pepper spray and now tazers. At this rate it won't be long before all our police officers are armed. How sad and upsetting. England is really starting to lose the very things that made our country so special.
- Edward, London, UK
Well another nice piece of desk office equipment that they can keep inside the office.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
As a recently retired American Police Officer, I was fortunate enough never to have been required to use a firearm in the line of duty, believe me, I am very grateful for this. I was a Firearms Training Officer for almost 20 years, and although at first I was doubtful, I came to appreciate the concept of the Taser. Although the majority of English Police do not carry firearms, the addition of the Taser will alow them to do their job, to protect the public from those who would creat havoc, and just as important, protect the Officers as well, a concern that is often over looked by those who are quick to critique the Police. One might ask rather than how many have died as the results of the Taser, how many have been saved.
- Francis Hines, Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA
The taser has got to be better than blasting tissue and muscle to shreds with bullets, and spend taxpayers' money for the recovery in intensive care.
- Stuart, Almeria, Spain
J. Neville, police in Northern Ireland routinely carry firearms and have done for years. As a result, when compared to the average English city, gun and knife crime in the province doesn't even register on the scale.
Given the exponential increase in violent crime over the last decade I think that TASER will be a welcome and useful tool. I think it extremely unlikely that it will be misused, and before you even think about mentioning cases such as that of Charles De Menezes, anti-terrorist operations are a completely different ball game compared to the overwhelming majority of offensive weapon incidents.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Hopefully the Met will do something about the violent crime, drug dealing, illegal immigration and prostitution plaguing the city.
- Alexander, London, UK
I think it's a great idea. I was wondering why one post mentioned a desklight? I didn't realise police carried these. If they don't then how will the taser blend in?
- A, London, SW1
How reassured can we be that Met police using Tasers “will benefit the public and keep them safe”?
Tasers have already been linked to deaths, such as 18 deaths in Canada since 2003 and 277 deaths in the USA since 2001. If they are to be used in extreme situations as a last resort they are better than firearms, but the worry is that they might be used inappropriately, as has been the case with CS gas and firearms.
MPA deputy leader Cindy Butts is right to be worried about the message this sends out to London's communities. Only the Territorial Support Group will be using the Tasers, but this group sounds like a renamed version of the Special Patrol Group who got a bad reputation for violence and deaths in dealing with demonstrations. I hope the TSG are more circumspect in dealing with incidents than was the SPG.
The least reassuring aspect of this is how open and honest the official response will be when a Taser is used wrongly or causes a death. Recent history gives cause for serious concern. In a number of cases, especially the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the response from both police and government has been to shift the blame, to prevent independent investigation and to smear the victim.
- Josephine Ruth Gaffiero, Derby, UK
Tasers aren't going to stop me from standing up for what I believe in by demonstrating.
I have very little doubt that that is what they're for.
Of course, their other use is to add to the psychological oppression this government seekes to unleash on us little by little, day after day. When will we turn around and say 'enough is enough?
- Kate, leicester
Soon enough the police will claim these weapons are ineffective and will be asking for live firearms next, stop and search suspects beware.
- Jeremiah Neville, Enfield, UK
Welcome to the police state. How long will it be until people are tasered at demonstrations against the war or the government?
"Tasers will protect the public and keep them safe"
Try telling that to the family of Robert Dziekanski, killed last month, or of the 200-plus other people killed by them in the USA since 2001.
- Paul Amery, London
Bless them. The taser will blend in quite nicely with their other equipment: the ruler, the stapler, scotch tape, post it notes, ball point pen, portable heater, desklight, woolen sox, TV to watch the CCTV etc. etc.
All necessary equipemt for the modern Nu Labor police man.
- Peter, London NW1.
