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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Policing Board backs Taser guns | Policing Board backs Taser guns |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The Policing Board has formally endorsed the chief constable's decision to deploy Taser stun guns. | The Policing Board has formally endorsed the chief constable's decision to deploy Taser stun guns. |
| Twelve guns were given to specialist police teams in a pilot scheme in January. Since then the weapon has been used once, in Londonderry in August. | Twelve guns were given to specialist police teams in a pilot scheme in January. Since then the weapon has been used once, in Londonderry in August. |
| The chief constable will decide if the weapon should be used on a permanent basis after an equality impact assessment is completed. | The chief constable will decide if the weapon should be used on a permanent basis after an equality impact assessment is completed. |
| A legal challenge on the deployment of the guns will take place in January. | |
| Sinn Féin wanted the decision deferred until the judicial review was heard. | |
| "I don't think there's confidence out there, particularly in the nationalist/republican community, to see this weapon deployed," said party board member Martina Anderson. | |
| "Amnesty International have told us that this weapon kills." | |
| The DUP's Peter Weir said it was a "logical move". | |
| "Would the opponents of Tasers rather that police officers were forced to use handguns in every situation where a Taser should be used? | |
| "Or perhaps they would like to make it impossible for the police to use necessary and proportionate force in order to defend innocent members of the public?" | |
| Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde said the device gave his officers an alternative to guns. | |
| "In likelihood, we will see people kept alive using this device and less injured than if a firearm had been used." |