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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Beat officers set for Taser trial | Beat officers set for Taser trial |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Strathclyde Police is to become the first force in Scotland to issue Taser stun guns to beat officers. | Strathclyde Police is to become the first force in Scotland to issue Taser stun guns to beat officers. |
| The pilot project will run from March to September and involve 30 officers in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire. | The pilot project will run from March to September and involve 30 officers in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire. |
| Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott said it was a "slippery slope" to Tasers being widely rolled out. | Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott said it was a "slippery slope" to Tasers being widely rolled out. |
| Details of the scheme were outlined at a full meeting of Strathclyde Police Authority. Officers will follow strict guidelines over Taser use. | |
| Taser guns can deliver a 50,000 volt electrical charge and are designed to incapacitate rather than cause serious injury. | Taser guns can deliver a 50,000 volt electrical charge and are designed to incapacitate rather than cause serious injury. |
| This is the slippery slope to every officer in Strathclyde carrying a Taser gun Tavish ScottScottish Liberal Democrat leader | This is the slippery slope to every officer in Strathclyde carrying a Taser gun Tavish ScottScottish Liberal Democrat leader |
| Strathclyde Police introduced the guns in 2005 for use by authorised firearms officers, but the pilot would see other officers issued with the weapons for "operational duties" after a three-day training course. | Strathclyde Police introduced the guns in 2005 for use by authorised firearms officers, but the pilot would see other officers issued with the weapons for "operational duties" after a three-day training course. |
| Mr Scott demanded to know what involvement the Scottish government had with the scheme, and asked whether parliament would have a say. | Mr Scott demanded to know what involvement the Scottish government had with the scheme, and asked whether parliament would have a say. |
| "When Tasers were put on trial in England, within the first year, they'd been used 600 times - 34 children were zapped with 50,000 volts," he said during question time at Holyrood. | "When Tasers were put on trial in England, within the first year, they'd been used 600 times - 34 children were zapped with 50,000 volts," he said during question time at Holyrood. |
| "This is the slippery slope to every officer in Strathclyde carrying a Taser gun." | "This is the slippery slope to every officer in Strathclyde carrying a Taser gun." |
| But First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a police operational matter, adding: "I think it would be appropriate if we allow the Chief Constable of Strathclyde to have his pilot studies to analyse the results. | But First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a police operational matter, adding: "I think it would be appropriate if we allow the Chief Constable of Strathclyde to have his pilot studies to analyse the results. |
| "Then we can come to an informed decision - as opposed to Tavish Scott's, I think, unwise speculation about what he thinks the results might be." | "Then we can come to an informed decision - as opposed to Tavish Scott's, I think, unwise speculation about what he thinks the results might be." |
| Police assaults | Police assaults |
| The £45,559 pilot project will focus on beat officers in Glasgow city centre, Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas - which have seen a higher number of police assaults. | The £45,559 pilot project will focus on beat officers in Glasgow city centre, Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas - which have seen a higher number of police assaults. |
| Strathclyde Ch Supt Bob Hamilton, said: "The three-day Taser training is the exact same training as the firearms officers get in relation to Tasers. | Strathclyde Ch Supt Bob Hamilton, said: "The three-day Taser training is the exact same training as the firearms officers get in relation to Tasers. |
| "We don't want to dilute the training, it's a very important matter." | "We don't want to dilute the training, it's a very important matter." |
| Human rights organisation Amnesty International Scotland said it it did not oppose Tasers, but claimed the training course was insufficient. | Human rights organisation Amnesty International Scotland said it it did not oppose Tasers, but claimed the training course was insufficient. |
| Amnesty's John Watson, said: "We're talking about Tasers being given to ordinary officers, dealing with whatever situation arises in their day, and getting three days of training for that. | Amnesty's John Watson, said: "We're talking about Tasers being given to ordinary officers, dealing with whatever situation arises in their day, and getting three days of training for that. |
| "The idea of these devices becoming an everyday presence on Scottish streets is something we're very concerned about." | "The idea of these devices becoming an everyday presence on Scottish streets is something we're very concerned about." |