British coppers refuse Taser rollout!
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At least two forces, including the country’s largest, have ruled out extending the stun guns to more officers while another two have still not made any decision…
The use of stun guns was questioned earlier this month when video footage in Nottingham appeared to show an officer shock a man at least twice while he was lying on the floor.
The weapons were initially only available to specially trained firearms officers but last November Jacqui Smith, the then Home Secretary, announced plans to fund the provision of 10,000 Taser guns nationally and training for up to 30,000 frontline officers to use them.
However, it has emerged Sussex Police has now joined the Metropolitan Police in refusing to extend the use of Tasers to non-firearms officers.
And South Yorkshire Police and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary are still to make a decision on whether to roll them out.
The view of 10 other forces remains unknown as they did not respond to Freedom of Information requests conducted by the Liberal Democrats.
Tom Brake, a Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: “It is ridiculous that the Home Office is lavishing millions on Tasers when some police forces do not want any more. Tasers should be left in the hands of specially trained firearms officers.”
“By making Tasers available to 30,000 officers we are descending down the slippery slope towards fully armed, US-style policing.”
Discussion of British vs. US-style policing is only meaningful in the U.K.. After all, Brits aren’t dealing with a population that in general is armed and dangerous. Especially to themselves.
