The Metropolitan Police Authority, whose membership includes Richmond Council's leader and local Greater London Assembly Member, Tony Arbour, has given its support to the continued use of the Taser electronic stun gun in London as a less lethal option to incapacitate violent or armed suspects, subject to safeguards.

Metropolitan Police armed response units are currently using the gun as part of wider trials in five police force areas, overseen by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

A Met progress report submitted to the MPA on September 10 concluded that use of the Taser, which discharges a low current, high voltage impulse shock to temporarily disable its victim, brought with it positive benefits, the most obvious being the saving of lives in situations where a firearm would otherwise be deployed.

But it was agreed that more needed to be done to explain its use to Londoners.

MPA Chair, Len Duvall, said: "The use of the Taser during the trial has undoubtedly saved lives, with armed suspects often giving up as soon as the gun is deployed and before it is fired. This is a valuable tool in safeguarding London communities.

"However, we must ensure that there are robust safeguards in place before its wider use to prevent random deployment against vulnerable people, such as the mentally ill, when other options may be available.

"We therefore support the proposal for the wider use of the Taser provided there is sufficient research to confirm its overall benefits and a tough monitoring system to ensure that its use in every case is proportionate."

Tasers were approved for operational deployment within five police forces as part of a study of less lethal technologies that could be used when officers were dealing with violent situations. In the trial the Taser is available as a less lethal alternative in circumstances where a firearm would otherwise be authorised.

In addition to the MPS, the other forces participating in the trial were North Wales, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Thames Valley. Some 500 Met officers are currently trained in the use of the Taser.

Between the start of the trial in London on 21 April 2003 to 8 July 2004, the Taser has been used 42 times, although only fired on 15 occasions. On most other occasions the suspect gave up once the laser-sighting dot was shone onto them or the electrodes were "sparked" as a show of force.

Sunday, September 12, 2004

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