Amnesty calls for rethink of taser gun use

Tuesday, 30 November 2004 12:00 AM

Amnesty International has called for a drastic rethink of the use of taser guns in the UK.

The call follows a study undertaken by the campaign group in the US and Canada, which claims that instead of being used as an alternative to lethal force, they are being used routinely to subdue suspects who do not pose a serious danger to anybody.

It claims that over 70 people in North America have died after being shocked with taser guns and though coroners have found other causes of death - such as drug intoxication - in five cases coroners directly attributed a role to tasers.

The report is focused on the US and Canada, but could have implications for the UK as taser guns have been used here since September.

Taser guns fire darts which give individuals an electric shock designed to stun them and are marketed as providing an alternative to firearm use.

Amnesty is calling for a "rigorous, independent and impartial" study into their effects, claiming that there has been no such study into the use and effects of tasers, particularly on those with pre-existing health conditions.

Responding, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) stressed that tasers in the UK are only used by specially trained officers and only in situations where firearms would otherwise be used.

They also point out that the technology was trialled by five forces for over a year before it was introduced and a independent sub-committee of the Defence Scientific Advisory Council produced a report which concluded that there was no evidence to link the use of taser as a cause to any death or injury.

Spokesman Derek Talbot, said: "Taser was rigorously scrutinised and evaluated during its trial period and continues to be so now it is in operational use. The British police service sought to introduce taser because it is an option that advances human rights - its use may be more proportionate than the use of a firearm in certain circumstances and gives officers the opportunity to incapacitate and overpower, rather than lethally injure someone.

"We believe that Taser ultimately reduces the risk to officers, offenders and members of the public."

British police have so-far used tasers 108 times, with no lasting injuries reported.

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