Taser arming for UK cops

metman

Police to be armed with stun guns
- 13:34 GMT, Monday, 24 November 2008



Up to 30,000 police officers across all forces in England and Wales are to be trained to use Taser stun guns. Currently, only specialist firearms officers carry the weapon, which can temporarily disable a suspect. Now the government has announced plans to buy 10,000 more Tasers and extend their use to all frontline officers. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said police needed tools to protect themselves and the public. Amnesty International is warning against using Tasers routinely. The Home Office plans to spend £8m on 10,000 new Tasers.

Dangerous people
Ms Smith said: "I am proud that we have one of the few police services around the world that do not regularly carry firearms and I want to keep it that way.

"But every day the police put themselves in danger to protect us, the public. They deserve our support, so I want to give the police the tools they tell me they need to confront dangerous people. That is why I am giving the police 10,000 Tasers to ensure that officers across the country benefit from this form of defence."

Just how many officers will end up using the Taser guns is being disputed. The Home Office says that a maximum 30,000 officers will be able to use the weapons, assuming there are three shifts per police working day. But the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), described these figures as "misleading". Acpo insists only around 5,000 additional officers would be using Tasers.

Electric shock
Experts say Tasers are a less dangerous alternative to conventional firearms. Two barbed darts trailing wires are fired from a special gun, which then delivers a powerful electric shock, temporarily incapacitating the suspect.



Sharp shock to deal with violence
Officers in England and Wales have fired the 50,000-volt stun guns more than 1,000 times since 2004. According to BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw , there are 2,000 Tasers currently available for police in England and Wales. About 6,500 firearms officers can use them, plus police response officers in the ten pilot forces. The announcement to extend their use follows a year-long pilot scheme which saw Tasers issued to frontline officers in 10 police forces. The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the pilot had not led to a big rise in complaints by the public. But it has called better guidance and training for police when Tasers were used in 'drive-stun' mode (directly against the body), because this generated the most complaints.

The Home Office says that before the new Tasers are issued, all officers who use them will need to attend an 18-hour training course, spread over two to three days. They will also be required to attend an annual "refresher" course to keep them up to date with developments.

Alan Campbell, Home Office minister responsible for crime reduction, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government had taken independent medical advice and that Tasers were "low risk". He said: "They're used under very strict circumstances and there are very clear guidelines.

"Last year they were only used on 93 occasions out of the more than 600 that they were deployed. We don't expect them to be used as a weapon of choice routinely. I am sure one of the intentions is to make sure we don't need to use guns as often."

The Home Office is funding the Tasers, but the cost of training officers to use them will be paid by individual police forces. The decision to extend their use has been welcomed by Acpo and by the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank-and-file officers.

Video of TSG officers deploying taser here.

Source
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Great stuff. Look forward to this being standard kit.

FGR

Yes Metman. Rub it in. :rolleyes:

Have you gotten any word as to whether you'll be one of those 30,000?

metman

LOL maybe this will give ye a business case to argue for it on your side of the divide

The idea being touted is that there'll be 30,000 armed with the weapon across 3 shifts, so effectively that means every officer will have access to the weapon on a shift basis. So basically a pool issue of weapons per operational shift. Originally the Met wanted one in every Area car, but it looks like the issue will be more widespread, but will fall short of personal issue...though its early days. It'll do me if we have it on shift as a tactical option, I don't care who/how many carries it.

deadwood

metman wrote: »

Garda Siochana to be armed with Spud guns
- 13:34 GMT, Monday, 24 November 2008




Up to 3 Gardai across Ireland are to be trained to use Spud guns. Currently, only specialist firearms officers carry the weapon, which can temporarily disable a suspect, or give them indigestion. Now the government has announced plans to buy 10 more Spud Guns and extend their use to all frontline officers. Minister for Justice, Equilibrium and Lowrys Farm said Gardai needed tools to protect themselves and the public, but this would have do do instead. Amnesty International is warning against using Spud guns routinely and have raised fears that certsin members will eat the evidence. They also feel this move will render the "rotten apples" accusations obselete. The Department of plans to spend €8 on 1 new Spud Gun.

Dangerous people
Mr Ahern said: "I am proud that we have one of the few police services around the world that do not regularly carry firearms and I want to keep it that way. I wouldn't like them to think they have a fighting chance with the criminals"

"But every day the Gardai put themselves in danger to protect us, the public. They deserve our support, and my recent proposal to blast "there's only one shickaloni, one shickaloni" from the public address systems in patrol cars hasn't generated the response I was hoping for. That is why I am giving the Gardai a Spud Gun to ensure that officers across the country benefit from this form of defence."

Just how many officers will end up using the Spud guns is being disputed. The Department of Juices Equalsigns and Laura from X Factor says that a maximum 3 Gardai will be able to use the weapons, assuming there are three shifts per police working day - not including annual leave, sick leave, in-service and t.o.i.l. But the Association of Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspetors), described these figures as "misleading". AGSI insists only around 2 additional officers would be using Spud Guns as Deadwood is on a low-carb kick at the minute.

Electric shock
Experts say Spud Guns are a less dangerous alternative to conventional firearms. Two shots from a Red Rooster or, in extreme circumstances, a Maris Piper, temporarily incapacitating the suspect.



Spud shock to deal with violence
Officers in Dublin have eaten 50,000 spuds more than since 2004 in anticipation of the move. This is the result of the unusual step taken by mismnagement in making ammunition freely available before the weapon, for which it was intended. According to TV3 home affairs correspondent Lorraine Keane, there are, like basically, 2 Spud Guns currently available for Gardai in Limerick and Cork. About 6 firearms officers can use them, plus police response officers in the ten pilot forces. The announcement to extend their use follows a year-long pilot scheme which saw Spud Guns issued to frontline officers in 10 police forces. The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission said the pilot had not led to a big rise in complaints by the public, but were hopeful this would change soon. But it has called better guidance and training for police when Spud Guns were used in 'drive-Spud' mode (directly against the belly), because this generated the most complaints, and stained the white bits on soccer shirts favoured by your average Social Deviant.

The Dept of Justsayno, Ebygum and Lawrenceofarabia says that before the new Spud Guns are issued, all officers who use them will need to attend a 1 hour training course, spread over two to three weeks. They will also be required to attend an annual "refresher";) course to keep them up to date with developments.

The Department of Julie Andrews Equine Studies and Laura Bush is funding the Spud Guns, but the cost of training officers to use them will be paid by individual Gardai's mammies. The decision to extend their use has been welcomed by AGSI and by the GRA (Garda Reprobate Association), which represents rank-and-file officers. The Federation represents some of the not-so-rank officers.

The IFA has welcomed the move and welcome any boost to the struggling potato market in these turbulent times, although their press secretary wondered what a Northern Irish soccer association would know about potatoes.
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Great stuff. Look forward to this being standard kit.

Going forward..

sunnyjim

HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!

metman

LOL

angelfire9

LOL! Seriously though, would the Gardai not be in favour of Tasers? I would have thought it was a good idea, open to contradiction from those in the know....

CLADA

Here's someone in the know

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GMtR_hawDN8

donvito99

I heard this mace is to become standard kit for all gardai from 2009 onwards...



They have also scrapped Tetra and gone down a more simple and as always with the Gardai, traditonalist route, you gotta love 'em...

FGR

angelfire9 wrote: »

would the Gardai not be in favour of Tasers?

Yes. I would rather have a personal issue Taser over a can of Pepper Spray any day of the week.

FGR

CLADA wrote: »

Here's someone in the know

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GMtR_hawDN8

"Take that ASP over the Taser man! Trust me!" :D

CLADA

"take that ass whippin', don't take that taser, man! i'm tellin ya."

eroo

Deadwood, thank you for brightening up a Monday!

Random

Lovely stuff Deadwood

Anyways, tasers ... I think they should definitely be deployed to as many officers as possible but I reckon officers should be vetted etc before hand to make sure they're not (complete) nutjobs.

There's nothing worse than a power hungry police man with a taser using it just for the sake of it or just because he's nervous.

Overall though I reckon the police should have this power to help them fight the bad guys with more than just a stick.

TheNog

Deadwood, Deadwood, Deadwood.

That was pure raw genius. Makes me wonder if we should have a Creative Writing thread.

*wipes tears from eyes*

Eru

Sure what criminal could stay aggressive after ten minutes of Deadwoods banter?

FGR

Deadwood..by any chance do you run a mini casino or video emporium whilst balancing SO duties?

I would say that it's very progressive for the UK forces to be finally issued this vital equipment. I'm sure all of us can recall at least one incident where this valuable piece of technology would have been appropriate.

That is. As opposed to summoning armed members from the other side of the division, if not the region.

deadwood

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Sure what criminal could stay aggressive after ten minutes of Deadwoods banter?

It's worked well for me so far!

ForegoneReality wrote: »

Deadwood..by any chance do you run a mini casino or video emporium whilst balancing SO duties?

I'm sure I don't know what you mean!

deadwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ekugPKqFw

Here's the solution to our Taser shortage.
Robbed from the humour forum.

Lightening Bolt, Lightening Bolt!

Mods, move to the off-topic thread..as if you need my consent.