Taser used for first time

Monday, 4 August 2003 12:00 AM

The Metropolitan Police became the first force in England to use a 'Taser' or stun gun yesterday.

In an incident now being investigated by the Police Complaints Authority, officers negotiated with an armed man for nearly an hour at an unnamed address in Hounslow before using a baton round and the taser.

Police report that the baton round was fired as the man approached officers with two handguns. The baton round struck him in the stomach and he fell to the floor, and the taser was then used to disable him as he attempted to get up.

The man was arrested and taken to hospital where he is being treated for non life-threatening injuries. The house was found to contain several other weapons, and the police are investigating how he received the gun shot wound that he had first called the police about.

Tasers hit the news some weeks ago as the Government sought to provide the police with greater non-lethal protection. A taser gun fires a dart into the target and uses a short burst of electricity to temporarily paralyse the individual.

While supporters of the technology will highlight the fact that an armed man was subdued without fatal force, groups such as Amnesty International have raised concerns that the devices will lead to greater abuse of power by police.

Trials are ongoing and involve the Metropolitan, Thames Valley, North Wales, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire police forces.

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