Should Taser be issued to every frontline officer?

[JulianHJ]

Sussex Police Federation have written to Cameron requesting that all frontline officers are equipped with Taser.

There are well-versed arguements for and against, the most significant being that it can cause death. I'm not sure how many (if any) deaths it has been a confirmed factor in. On the other hand it carries less risk than using a baton, which can also cause death and serious injury. It's presence if often a serious deterrent, and can bring situations under control in a much safer manner.

Any thoughts on the subject?

[PeanutHead]

Give em all tasers with a fire at will order.
That should cure the rioters and those innocent bystanders.

[AlexiusG55]

I'd rather not- from what I see on the Internet, the Americans seem to use it more as a cattle prod/ compliance device than an alternative to a gun. You get all these videos of people being tasered for talking back to police, or even while handcuffed...

[JulianHJ]

I've just asked for the thread to be moved to the News forum, as it's currently a media topic.

[Riley Blue]

A couple of years ago Derbyshire Constabulary drew their Tasers 44 times in twelve months and fired them four times. I don't see that as justification for equipping the whole force with them though at the time I think the Chief Constable wanted to. I forget what the total cost would have been, £100,000s certainly - all for a piece of equipment used four times a year.

[Devil2575]

They can have them as long as they promise to taser burbery cap wearing, tracky bottoms tucked into socks idiots on a regular basis

[Citizen09]

Riley Blue said:

A couple of years ago Derbyshire Constabulary drew their Tasers 44 times in twelve months and fired them four times. I don't see that as justification for equipping the whole force with them

How many times could the officers have had tasers as an option, but didn't have access to them and didn't have a taser-equipped officer available to travel to them so had to resort to other potentially more-damaging or riskier options?

[DaveL485]

Riley Blue said:

A couple of years ago Derbyshire Constabulary drew their Tasers 44 times in twelve months and fired them four times. I don't see that as justification for equipping the whole force with them though at the time I think the Chief Constable wanted to. I forget what the total cost would have been, £100,000s certainly - all for a piece of equipment used four times a year.

Doesn't that show that it works as a deterrent? Isn't that the idea?

[rewc]

DaveL485 said:

Doesn't that show that it works as a deterrent? Isn't that the idea?

There was a discussion on Newsnight a couple of years ago where those in favour said they would only be used where a baton would be used now. How many time is a baton used now?

[Citizen09]

AlexiusG55 said:

I'd rather not- from what I see on the Internet, the Americans seem to use it more as a cattle prod/ compliance device than an alternative to a gun.

The police in the US have different rules and laws governing their use of force.

In the UK, taser is fairly low on the scale in terms of use of force (e.g. it has less potential to harm than being hit with a metal baton) and really isn't equivalent to being "an alternative to a gun."

[anonymous-user]

I'm personally (probably wrongly) one of these people that thinks 'fk em'.
If they run, struggle, or generally fail to follow instructions to 'stop' by an officer then they should just get a taser or pepper spray without hesitation, and every frontline officer should have that option.

The st that the police have to put up with is unbelievable, and an extra non-lethal weapon should be added to their arsenal.

A friend of mine was a Police officer and used to love calling in the dog squad for non-compliant suspects, because as he put it "there isn't anything funnier than watching a grown man or chav getting dragged round by a large, angry, German shepherd"

I think tasers are simply an extension of the non-compliance toolkit.

Edited by NinjaPower on Tuesday 26th June 11:14

[Sgt Bilko]

Riley Blue said:

A couple of years ago Derbyshire Constabulary drew their Tasers 44 times in twelve months and fired them four times. I don't see that as justification for equipping the whole force with them though at the time I think the Chief Constable wanted to. I forget what the total cost would have been, £100,000s certainly - all for a piece of equipment used four times a year.

And how many times has a Taser equipped officer been at a developing incident, or shown up in the early stages, and the scote(s) have looked at the taser in the holster and thought, "ahh, maybe not tonight". The sheer presence of a taser should not be underestimated.

[Jasandjules]

Well, I don't spend my days at risk of being stabbed, spat at by a HIV positive person, shot etc so personally I feel if the police officers want them then let them have them. If they are abused then the position could be looked at, but in the meantime I would prefer the officers to be safe from scum.

[Frix]

I would take a TASER if offered. Would I want all front-line officers to have them? No. There are some I wouldn't trust with a sharp pencil. I have lost count of the times I have been sprayed by a colleague (ususally the same one not wholesale incompetence). A strict pass/fail training course would make me sleep easier on shift....er....I mean...in my bed.

[LordGrover]

Frix said:

... sleep easier on shift....er....I mean...in my bed.

[Rovinghawk]

NinjaPower said:

a Police officer.........used to love calling in the dog squad for non-compliant suspects, because as he put it "there isn't anything funnier than watching a grown man or chav getting dragged round by a large, angry, German shepherd"

How very professional. This attitude is a good argument against issuing him a taser.

RH

[98elise]

Sgt Bilko said:

Riley Blue said:

A couple of years ago Derbyshire Constabulary drew their Tasers 44 times in twelve months and fired them four times. I don't see that as justification for equipping the whole force with them though at the time I think the Chief Constable wanted to. I forget what the total cost would have been, £100,000s certainly - all for a piece of equipment used four times a year.

And how many times has a Taser equipped officer been at a developing incident, or shown up in the early stages, and the scote(s) have looked at the taser in the holster and thought, "ahh, maybe not tonight". The sheer presence of a taser should not be underestimated.

Agreed, i saw it in action on one of those cops with camera's type programs. A suspect was cornered and was carrying a metal bar. He was told to drop it but didn't. The copper pulled the tazer and issued a warning. The suspect immediately dropped it and became compliant.

That sounds very fair use to me, and would maybe stop a lot of the physical and verbal abuse coppers get (and shouldn't have to put up with)

[broken biscuit]

Im frontline, not firearms, and am Taser trained and equipped. It is an incredibly effective tool to de escalate volatile situations. A few weeks ago we had large scale public order. 20+ youths took objection to a mate being arrested. Batons drawn, thry kept coming. 4/5 officers there. Taser was drawn and various members red-dotted. The group took the hint and were able to be dispersed.

I have never fired mine in 18months, but have used it to detain robbery suspects thought to be armed with knives, broken up fights and regularly draw it for clearing burglary scenes when offenders may be on site. I wouldn't be without it now. Even in its holster people take notice of its presence and act accordingly.

[Triumph Man]

I'm not sure how true this is, but I once heard that anyone who is issued a taser has to have it used upon them first. Is that correct?

[SteveScooby]

No, you are exposed to PAVA prior to it being issued though