Are Tasers over used in the UK?

Question

I have just had a heated row with my son following his statement that the police here in the UK now tend to use "Taser Guns" far too often whereas before they (in general)they would have used the skills and training they were giveb.

I have explained that in todays modern society the police need all the help (equipment wise) that they can get whilst,at the same time I do not agree with their use as an everyday tool.

He also says that our Police forces are tending to become an extension of the American Police with the equipment and methods being introduced.

Please let me have your views and comments with honesty and,without insulting or offending any police officers as that is not what the question is about.

Answer 1

You will find that any officer equipped with one will be very reluctant to use it. the police will sack officers if found to be using one when not required. We are also nothing like the American police. Our society prefers officers to get shot and possibly killed rather than give front-line officers the proper means to defend themselves.

A recent case has been in the news revealing that there are 60 Mac10 machine guns in criminal hands....Who are they pointing at?

Answer 2

Your son is right. Mind you better a taser up the jacksie than some over excited fuzz giving you a 9mm.

Answer 3

i thought that tasers were'nt used in england but in general especially usa they are over used cos a kid fell off a bridge broke his back and the cps tasered him 11 times.

Answer 4

I live very near to Central London and in my experience police officers are VERY reluctant to use these as they always take the chance of being reported for being in the wrong, today our police force is told to do a job but then various politicians tie them in knots so that it is a nearly impossible task. So, no, I do not think that they are over used in the UK.

Standard equipment .

During the last four years, Tasers have become standard police equipment in the UK and have been regarded as a less dangerous alternative to guns.

They deliver an electric shock by two barbed darts trailing wires.

A total of 3,000 have been issued so far, but only specially trained firearms officers can use them. Armed response vehicles in London also carry the stun gun.

A sub-committee of Britain's Defence Scientific Advisory Council looked at the medical implications of Taser use in 2004.

It concluded that the risk of life-threatening or serious injuries from the M26 gun used by police in England and Wales was "very low".

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation, said his members welcomed an expansion of Taser.

Answer 5

A large number of Devon & Cornwall Police Officers have been issued with tasers and I am totally against it. This type of weapon should be left to trained Firearms Officers. They should not be used ad lib which will happen and some Officers are too trigger happy to have them.

Answer 6

A Taser gun was used in N.Ireland for the first time last week.It was thought to be the most appropriate force in a situation where a father with mental health problems was holding his two sons captive.

Answer 7

I have not heard of the taser guns being used in UK as much as in US. But i think they are slowly being introduced as a 'tool' of policing the society.