can you Taser someone in this situation?

[Tiggsy]

imaginary scenario- I cause some damage (smash up a car with a hammer lets say) - enough to get the police called. they arrive and asked me to put down the hammer-I refuse. I do not threaten them other than to say "do not come closer" - so they are in no immediate danger, nor is anybody else, but I am refusing to put down the hammer.

Other half says fair game to wack me with the taser! I think that, if nobody is in immediate danger, just using it as a means of getting close enough to disarm me is heavy handed and they should "talk me down"

Whats the "law" on such things?

[CoolC]

Who's car are you planning to smash up?

[Durzel]

IANAL but I would presume you'd have committed an offense of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and as such would be subject to a lawful arrest attempt.

In short - if you refused to put it down, and they were trying to arrest you, you'd get tasered.

[randlemarcus]

Your Other Half knows you better than us, so if they say Tase you, I'd have to agree. Have you thought about some Relate sessions?

[julian64]

I'd taser you in your eyeballs.

[Hugo a Gogo]

I was once tasked with breaking into a colleagues car with a hammer, in the late evening (long story)

cops came running up 'stealthily' crouching behind cars and told me to put the hammer down with their hands on their real guns (Germany)

I did as I was told

(Tolle Geschichte, Bro)

[Drumroll]

your "actions" in not putting the hammer down means you are a threat. Just because you say you aren't going to do something isn't really a defence when you are still holding a hammer.


As we all know everybody is totally honest in their intentions, sometimes wonder why we need the police.;)

[TurboHatchback]

I'm pretty sure I could hurt someone at a fair distance with a hammer by chucking it at them, I would say in that situation it wouldn't be unreasonable to taser you after verbal negotiations proved useless.

[SteveScooby]

Page 4 of this document shows the escalation of use of force;

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/sites/default/...

In your scenario officer presence and tactical communications have failed, and it could be argued that use of primary tactics exposes the officers to disproportionate risk, you're armed and non-compliant, so it would not be unreasonable to escalate to secondary techniques.

Edited by SteveScooby on Monday 6th February 10:22

[anonymous-user]

I think it's likely a Taser would be lawful in those circumstances.

This CPS page is worth a read: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/self_defence/

[Tiggsy]

Cool - she wins. Typical.

[Foliage]

Yes

[mickmcpaddy]

Depends what colour you are doesn't it?

I once saw an ethnic gentleman get tasered for riding his bike pushbike without lights, the copper said it would have been real bullets if it was dark at the time.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

mickmcpaddy said:

Depends what colour you are doesn't it?

I once saw an ethnic gentleman get tasered for riding his bike pushbike without lights, the copper said it would have been real bullets if it was dark at the time.

I bet they give him a right kicking afterwards as well and then probably set him on fire just to be sure.

[Bigends]

This would also depend on what rush the Police were in to get the matter resolved as well.

[Car mad enthusiast]

I would Taser you and make sure its on MAX setting too.

If you cant just talk and reason with someone instead of holding a weapon in your hand then smashing something up then you deserve to be Tasered unless its your own car and then no one will give a toss. LOL

Tiggsy said:

imaginary scenario- I cause some damage (smash up a car with a hammer lets say) - enough to get the police called. they arrive and asked me to put down the hammer-I refuse. I do not threaten them other than to say "do not come closer" - so they are in no immediate danger, nor is anybody else, but I am refusing to put down the hammer.

Other half says fair game to wack me with the taser! I think that, if nobody is in immediate danger, just using it as a means of getting close enough to disarm me is heavy handed and they should "talk me down"

Whats the "law" on such things?

[HappyMidget]

Tiggsy said:

Cool - she wins. Typical.

1. The woman is always right.
2. When she is wrong, refer to rule 1.

[98elise]

On one of those fly on the wall police shows I saw them pull a Taser on a bloke who refused to drop a crow bar. As soon as the red dot was on him he dropped it though, so they didn't have to fry him.