|
mollymoo
Original Poster
129 posts
15 months
|
So, the bloke over the road killed himself a couple of weeks ago. I won't go into the details of that sad event, suffice to say no firearms were involved, but obviously when there's somebody had died there's a whole lot of police stuff goes on.
The two officers who came over to have a chat both had Tasers on their belts. I thought Tasers were only for firearms officers and I thought firearms officers only got their toys out when they had reason to believe they might be needed. Were we blessed with the presence of armed officers who felt the need to be kitted up to ask a few questions, or do normal response units carry them now too?
South Yorkshire, in case it makes a difference.
|
|
|
King Eric
164 posts
79 months
|
I expect they don't want the public knowing who does and doesn't carry them for operational reasons so doubt you'll get an answer being specific (I hope)
Although I think bobbies should have them on their belts whatever their role. They are proving to be very effective in dealing with threats of violence and violence against them and people like you and I.
If two Billy's come in my house for my car keys I'm happy to have an officer with a taser come in after him moreso than one with a CS gas canister if I'm honest.
I mean the security staff in Wallmart have them up protect the meat from being nicked. So what's the big issue? Not am easy course to pass, you need some skill and there are strict national guidelines ( perhaps top strict!) on their use.
I'd vote to see them on the hip of every copper. Would make most drunk twirps think twice about kicking off when they saw the zapper on their belt!
|
|
|
mollymoo
Original Poster
129 posts
15 months
|
King Eric said: I expect they don't want the public knowing who does and doesn't carry them for operational reasons so doubt you'll get an answer being specific (I hope) I probably phrased it a bit more openly than I intended. I was just somewhat surprised because I thought they were treated the same way as firearms and I wouldn't expect them to turn up toting MP5s in my kitchen either. I don't want operational specifics, I was just curious about what I saw was fairly normal or exceptional. King Eric said: Although I think bobbies should have them on their belts whatever their role. They are proving to be very effective in dealing with threats of violence and violence against them and people like you and I.
If two Billy's come in my house for my car keys I'm happy to have an officer with a taser come in after him moreso than one with a CS gas canister if I'm honest.
I mean the security staff in Wallmart have them up protect the meat from being nicked. So what's the big issue? Not am easy course to pass, you need some skill and there are strict national guidelines ( perhaps top strict!) on their use.
I'd vote to see them on the hip of every copper. Would make most drunk twirps think twice about kicking off when they saw the zapper on their belt! I've nothing against police carrying them at all, though I don't think I'd like to see them on the belt of every one. If they become normal you end up on the slippery slope to what we see from the states. Where there's a real threat of violence then I'm happy to see them zap away, but I wouldn't want to see people being zapped for non-violent non-compliance. Private security firms having them would be a nightmare.
|
|
|
Greendubber
2,807 posts
72 months
|
Taser = s  t magnet... However stops people playing up without even having to be drawn so good kit to have. We have taser officers on every response shift, so we're not all firearms officers just ATO's
|
|
|
Dibble
7,611 posts
109 months
|
Most if not all forces have AFOs (Authorisd Firearms Officers) who will carry "conventional" firearms but also TASER. They'll also have access to baton guns as well, usually in their vehicle. Some forces' AFOs are permanently overtly armed with all weapons, some with just sidearms (pistols). They'll usually always have the TASER belted on full time.
ATOs/TTOs (Authorised TASER Officers/TASER Trained Officers) are usually operational officers who've been through the course. Deployment of these vary from force to force. Some forces use Traffic officers, some use Public Order officers, some use response officers, or a combination of the above.
I've no idea what the ratio is, but there are usually a couple of non firearms TASER carrying officers per shift, per area.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
Greendubber
2,807 posts
72 months
|
I'm an ATO and work response, our response shifts will generally have a couple of taser cars at least. I think we want ten ATO's Per shift soon. I'll be happy to see that because we get every bag of s t job going being taser so it's time to share the wealth a bit!!
|
|
|
thehappyotter
767 posts
71 months
|
It varies from force to force.
A lot of our specialist, non-armed units carry them as well as AFO's but not response or neighborhood officers.
I suspect one of the biggest reasons, in this area at least, is training and re cert costs as well as the costs of fitting the storage systems at every nick.
A Taser equipped officer, be it ARV/dog section/TSG/whoever will usually be dispatched to a 'Taser authorised' job as back up with a divisional supervisor to 'bronze'.
I'm one of our Officer Safety/Self Defence Instructors and I personally can't see them being issued to everyone for some time here.
|
|
|
Breadvan72
10,209 posts
32 months
|
I hope that you are right, and that the carriage and use of tasers continues to be rare. I am surprised to learn that any non police officers have tasers.
|
|
|
Breadvan72
10,209 posts
32 months
|
King Eric said: I expect they don't want the public knowing who does and doesn't carry them for operational reasons so doubt you'll get an answer being specific (I hope) I hope the opposite. I think that the public should be informed of what equipment police officers have for use in everyday policing. Covert operations and high security will of course be justified in particular cases of investigation and prevention of crime and protection against terrorist and other criminal threats, but when it comes to the routine policing of law and order by officers out and about amongst the public, I think that the police should in general act openly. At least some of the police officers who have responded here appear to share this view, as they have been open about the policies in their forces (thanks, blokes, for your informative answers).
|
|
|
98elise
3,159 posts
30 months
|
I hope all officers get them. They are no more deadly than a baton, and can be used without having to get within arms length of an agressive thug.
They also seem to have a very quick calming effect when drawn. More so than a baton. Probably because you are a finger twitch away from a world of pain.
|
|
|
Breadvan72
10,209 posts
32 months
|
Why not get some cattle prods and whips while we are at it? I do not want to live in a society patrolled by people ready to default to the infliction of pain to ensure obedience. Are levels of violence in society really that much greater, in proportion to population, than they were fifty years ago? Just because a technology is available, that doesn't mean that we should use it.
|
|
|
98elise
3,159 posts
30 months
|
Breadvan72 said: Why not get some cattle prods and whips while we are at it? I do not want to live in a society patrolled by people ready to default to the infliction of pain to ensure obedience. Are levels of violence in society really that much greater, in proportion to population, than they were fifty years ago? Just because a technology is available, that doesn't mean that we should use it.
I don't think the levels of violence are any higher, but technology means the Police longer have to beat an agressor into submission with a metal bar. The tazer is less violent, and I would suspect is much more likely to stop an escalation, as the agressor knows they are at a huge disadvantage. Given the choice of being hit with a baton, tazered or pepper sprayed, I'd go with the tazer. I've experiences similar things to all 3. I've taken a few large shocks in my time, and they knock the wind out of you, but after a few minutes you feel fine.
|
|
|
Breadvan72
10,209 posts
32 months
|
My concern is that the taser starts to be used, as perhaps too often it is in the US, as a control device even when the use of force is not warranted.
|
|
|
XCP
10,476 posts
97 months
|
Breadvan72 said: My concern is that the taser starts to be used, as perhaps too often it is in the US, as a control device even when the use of force is not warranted. Better the taser than a baton if that is going to be the case. ( which I can't see happening anyway.)
|
|
|
Citizen09
629 posts
40 months
|
Breadvan72 said: My concern is that the taser starts to be used, as perhaps too often it is in the US, as a control device even when the use of force is not warranted. The same could be said of PAVA and batons, the use of which is recorded and centrally monitored.
|
|
|
XCP
10,476 posts
97 months
|
Breadvan72 said: Why not get some cattle prods and whips while we are at it? I do not want to live in a society patrolled by people ready to default to the infliction of pain to ensure obedience. Are levels of violence in society really that much greater, in proportion to population, than they were fifty years ago? Just because a technology is available, that doesn't mean that we should use it.
Levels of violence by the police are less than they were 50 tears ago. And you are far less likely to get a smack in the mouth from an Inspector for having the temerity to complain nowadays 
|
|
|
the_kato
290 posts
56 months
|
I'm Met and work response team. We carry tasers as non-AFO's, but are a pilot borough for it. The aim is for all response officers to be carrying post Olympics
|
|
|
3Dee
2,539 posts
90 months
|
This is not a frivolous question... What effect does Taser have on a person wih a heart condition?
|
|
|
Greendubber
2,807 posts
72 months
|
the_kato said: I'm Met and work response team. We carry tasers as non-AFO's, but are a pilot borough for it. The aim is for all response officers to be carrying post Olympics Out of interest how often to they UBS up being used where you are? I've never had to actually taser anyone only red dot or overtly hold it etc which has always done the trick.
|
|
|
the_kato
290 posts
56 months
|
Greendubber said: Out of interest how often to they UBS up being used where you are? I've never had to actually taser anyone only red dot or overtly hold it etc which has always done the trick. Only had them for a couple of weeks. As far as I know no one on any of the teams has drawn it yet
|
|
