UK - police are told they can use taser guns on kids

[buckthesystem]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...e#StartComments

Now police are told they can use Taser guns on children

By JASON LEWIS

Police have been given the go-ahead to use Taser stun guns against children.

The relaxing of restrictions on the use of the weapons comes despite warnings that they could trigger a heart attack in youngsters.

Until now, Tasers - which emit a 50,000-volt electric shock - have been used only by specialist officers as a "non lethal" alternative to firearms.

However, they can now be used against all potentially violent offenders even if they are unarmed.

It is the decision not to ban their use against minors that is likely to raise serious concerns.

Home Office Police Minister Tony McNulty said medical assessments had confirmed the risk of death or serious injury from Tasers was "low".

But he failed to mention Government advisers had also warned of a potential risk to children.

The Defence Scientific Advisory Council medical committee told the Home Office that not enough was known about the health risks of using the weapons against children.

Tasers work by firing metal barbs into the skin which then discharge an electrical charge which is designed to disable someone long enough to allow police to detain them safely.

The committee, which is made up of independent scientists and doctors, said that limited research suggested there was a risk children could suffer "a serious cardiac event".

It recommended that officers should be "particularly vigilant" for any Taser-induced adverse response and said guidance should be amended to "identify children and adults of small stature" as being at potentially greater risk from the cardiac effects of Tasers.

The Government scientists were also asked to test whether the weapons could cause a miscarriage if used on a pregnant woman.

While not saying whether police would be allowed to Taser an expectant mother, the Home Office said the DSAC committee had "specifically asked" for computer simulations to be carried out to analyse the effect on "a pregnant female".

Amnesty International claims Tasers have been responsible for 220 deaths in America since 2001. Many cities and police forces there have banned their use against minors.

Two years ago in Chicago a 14-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest after being shot with one. Medics had to use a defibrillator four times to resuscitate him.

Taser International, the American firm that makes the device, said tests on pigs suggested the weapons were safe.

The Association of Chief Police Officers, which issues guidance to forces on the use of weapons, said Tasers would be made "readily available" for "conflict management" at incidents of "violence and threats of violence of such severity that they will need force".

Non-firearms officers in ten forces will be trained to use the weapons. Every incident they are involved in will be assessed over a 12-month trial period.

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Well I like the way they refused to answer when asked if tasers could cause miscarriage in pregnant women. But then, of course, they are completely unaccountable so I guess it doesn't matter - to them anyway.

[sweetycakes]

Quite frankly, some of the little brats need to be stunned...

Just long enough so that we can chain them up under the stairs.

[ladypeartree]

If a teenager or pregnant woman is in the position to be dangerous to others what do you recommend ?

Perhaps it would be better to have more innocent children killed by the lawless members of society rather than risk injury to the poor vicious thugs missunderstood young people who think they have a right to use guns, knives or even brutally kick people to death just cos they are bored ??

try telling that to the parents of the 11 year old killed by another youngster who rode his bike past and shot him in the neck just because he was walking home after football practice .

try telling that to the parents of the young teens wh have been brutally murdered in unprovoked attacks by other teens high on drinks drugs and a sense of their own importance

try telling that to the families of the police officers killed when they have been trying to protect the public from manics with machetes /guns and nothing to lose

If you dont like it come up with something better ...gunsa and bullets perhaps ? we are one of the few countries that do not have armed police but we do not need to have any more dead heros either

[sheya joie]

How on earth would you even do tests to find out if tasers are 'safe' to use on pregnant women? What pregnant woman is going to agree to be tasered to see if she miscarries?

Ugh to the whole thing.

[Leonard]

I've been voluntarily tazed before. It WILL stop you in your tracks! I thought I was a pretty tough guy, but that little girl Officer about 5'2" and 110 lbs put me down quick, in front of a class of cheering, laughing, and applauding Middle Schoolers!!!

[ladypeartree]

The whole thing about the "pregnant woman " is a red herring ...yes there are side effects and we do not know what they would be on a pregnant woman but we DO know what the effects of a gun are and the police are not about to use the tazers on people just to see how they react ...if a pregnant woman is behaving in a manner that is threatening the life of another person would you prefer her to be shot? or maybe she should be allowed to kill or seriously harm someone else just because she is pregnant ? ..Sorry but those who chose to behave in a dangerous and violent way have to be stopped for the sake of the innocent kids that are caught in their madness

[MorningGlory]

Tasers are used here in the U.S. also, although I don't believe it's a common practice; it's usually reserved for someone who is very large and powerful or under the influence of some drug. Maybe I'm naive here; under what circumstances would it be necessary to use one of these instruments against a child? And how young?

[ladypeartree]

the rules are that only a few forces have a few tasers and the officers are authorised to use them only if the person they are up against cannot be disarmed in any other way and is a serious danger to others or themselves ...and yes it does include "children" who are generally young thugs in their teens who ride around in stolen cars using guns...knives and clubs dealing drugs and picking on anyone who crosses their path because when they are in large gangs they feel invinsible and just out to cause trouble.

Reda the newspapers just lately and see how many decent innocent humands adults and children who have been killed by these thugs "just for laughs" ...the latest was an 11 year old boy who was walking home from football practice at 5pm in themiddle of a respectable neighbourhood. He had never been in any trouble, he was not part of any gang he just got picked on because the teenage thug that shot him knew he could get away with it !!!!

BTW our police do NOT carry guns

[Scarletprayers]

The whole thing about the "pregnant woman " is a red herring ...yes there are side effects and we do not know what they would be on a pregnant woman but we DO know what the effects of a gun are and the police are not about to use the tazers on people just to see how they react ...if a pregnant woman is behaving in a manner that is threatening the life of another person would you prefer her to be shot? or maybe she should be allowed to kill or seriously harm someone else just because she is pregnant ? ..Sorry but those who chose to behave in a dangerous and violent way have to be stopped for the sake of the innocent kids that are caught in their madness

the rules are that only a few forces have a few tasers and the officers are authorised to use them only if the person they are up against cannot be disarmed in any other way and is a serious danger to others or themselves ...and yes it does include "children" who are generally young thugs in their teens who ride around in stolen cars using guns...knives and clubs dealing drugs and picking on anyone who crosses their path because when they are in large gangs they feel invinsible and just out to cause trouble.

Reda the newspapers just lately and see how many decent innocent humands adults and children who have been killed by these thugs "just for laughs" ...the latest was an 11 year old boy who was walking home from football practice at 5pm in themiddle of a respectable neighbourhood. He had never been in any trouble, he was not part of any gang he just got picked on because the teenage thug that shot him knew he could get away with it !!!!

BTW our police do NOT carry guns

BTW, I think the "Criminal Justice System" is just that, justice for the criminals!

[Axxman]

Using a TASER is a "force option" for police. Thats it. Its not a majic bullet. If a person becomes physically resistive towards police they can use the TASER as ONE of their "force options." Like all "force options" their is NO guarantee that the option I choose to use will be effective. For example, I could choose to use a pepper spray, or joint lock (which are in the same 'force" catagory as TASER)...but they may not be effective at gaining complaince. As an officer I CANNOT increase my "force options" unless the suspect does. Therefore I have to find a way to detain the subject within the "force options" available.

The TASER is infinitely more safe and less likely to cause injury than other "force options." Even pepper spray (which is the same force level as TASER) causes pain and discomfort for hours if taken directly in the eyes, nose, or mouth. The TASER causes far less injury than high level "force options" such as batons, impact weapons, beanbags, caratid holds, punches, kicks, knee strikes...and we haven't even gotten to firearms yet.

All I can tell you is that if police are going to arrest your teen son, and he decides to resist...the TASER will be MUCH SAFER and cause far less physical damage than most other physical "force options" that police have to use. I have never been in a position of having to use a TASER on a pregnant woman...however... I believe most police officers would exhaust all other "force options" before tasing a pregnant woman. Even still, the TASER would be a better option for a pregnant woman than most other force options that would cause more physical injury.