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| Black people 'three times more likely' to have Taser used against them | Black people 'three times more likely' to have Taser used against them |
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| Black people are three times more likely to have a Taser used against them than white people, figures suggest. | Black people are three times more likely to have a Taser used against them than white people, figures suggest. |
| The electroshock stun guns have been used by police thousands of times in the past five years, with a rise in its use against children, Home Office data showed. | The electroshock stun guns have been used by police thousands of times in the past five years, with a rise in its use against children, Home Office data showed. |
| Tasers were used – meaning they were drawn, aimed or fired – by police 38,135 times between 2010 and 2015, a BBC freedom of information request revealed. However, in 80% of cases the weapon was not discharged. | Tasers were used – meaning they were drawn, aimed or fired – by police 38,135 times between 2010 and 2015, a BBC freedom of information request revealed. However, in 80% of cases the weapon was not discharged. |
| In over 12% of cases in which ethnicity was recorded – more than 36,000 of the 38,000 incidents – the person against whom the devices was used was black and of African-Caribbean origin or of mixed white and African-Caribbean origin. Black people make up only about 4% of the population. | In over 12% of cases in which ethnicity was recorded – more than 36,000 of the 38,000 incidents – the person against whom the devices was used was black and of African-Caribbean origin or of mixed white and African-Caribbean origin. Black people make up only about 4% of the population. |
| A Taser was used against people under the age of 18 in 522 cases, compared with 349 times in 2010. The latest figures come a year after Theresa May ordered an in-depth review of the use of force by police amid particular concerns that physical restraint and Tasers were being used against mentally distressed people. | A Taser was used against people under the age of 18 in 522 cases, compared with 349 times in 2010. The latest figures come a year after Theresa May ordered an in-depth review of the use of force by police amid particular concerns that physical restraint and Tasers were being used against mentally distressed people. |
| Announcing the review, the home secretary cited evidence from the London assembly that showed up to 30% of people Tasered by the Metropolitan police were emotionally or mentally distressed, and 50% were from black or other minority ethnic backgrounds. | Announcing the review, the home secretary cited evidence from the London assembly that showed up to 30% of people Tasered by the Metropolitan police were emotionally or mentally distressed, and 50% were from black or other minority ethnic backgrounds. |
| As the use of the stun guns steadily grows, opinions about their value remain divided. The Home Office describes them as “an important tactical option to help specially trained police officers resolve potentially violent situations safely”. | As the use of the stun guns steadily grows, opinions about their value remain divided. The Home Office describes them as “an important tactical option to help specially trained police officers resolve potentially violent situations safely”. |
| In February, the Police Federation voted for all uniformed officers to be issued with Tasers. However, Amnesty International says they are a potentially lethal weapon, which should be withdrawn from use by non-specialist firearms officers. | |
| The pain of being hit by a Taser is “difficult to describe”, according to one expert in police use of restraint and pain techniques. | The pain of being hit by a Taser is “difficult to describe”, according to one expert in police use of restraint and pain techniques. |
| “It totally and utterly floods every area of your consciousness,” he said, on condition of anonymity. | “It totally and utterly floods every area of your consciousness,” he said, on condition of anonymity. |
| “It really is extreme. I suffered the typical effects of going quite rigid. It is like your muscles contract into one mass. Immediately I could feel myself starting to fall. When the current was switched off, the muscles relaxed again. With the Taser your body is flooded with a painful sensation.” | “It really is extreme. I suffered the typical effects of going quite rigid. It is like your muscles contract into one mass. Immediately I could feel myself starting to fall. When the current was switched off, the muscles relaxed again. With the Taser your body is flooded with a painful sensation.” |
| Last week police shot a man after attempts to subdue him with a Taser failed. | Last week police shot a man after attempts to subdue him with a Taser failed. |
| There were 158 cases last year involving children under 16, the figures showed. In one case in Hampshire, a police officer removed his Taser from the holster in an incident involving a nine-year-old boy. | |
| In another, a Taser was drawn against a 91-year-old man, according to the Home Office figures. However Suffolk police said they could find no record of it. | |
| Press Association contributed to this report. |