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| Safety of Tasers to be investigated after death of man in Manchester | Safety of Tasers to be investigated after death of man in Manchester |
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| An independent inquiry is to look into the continued use of Taser stun guns by police in England and Wales after an inquest verdict earlier this week linking their use to the death of a factory worker in Manchester. | |
| Related: Police Taser shooting contributed to man's death, jury finds | Related: Police Taser shooting contributed to man's death, jury finds |
| The inquiry is to be carried out by official scientific and medical advisers – after senior police officers called for an independent body to look at detailed medical evidence in the case of Jordan Begley, 23,whose death was linked to the use of this “less-lethal weapon”. | |
| DAC Neil Basu, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said he was asking the surgeon general and the Home Office to refer the detailed medical evidence in the case to an independent body to “determine if it is necessary to amend their advice of the safety of this weapon”. He added that the conclusions of the review should be published. | DAC Neil Basu, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said he was asking the surgeon general and the Home Office to refer the detailed medical evidence in the case to an independent body to “determine if it is necessary to amend their advice of the safety of this weapon”. He added that the conclusions of the review should be published. |
| The inquiry is to be carried out by the scientific advisory committee for the medical implications of the use of less-lethal weapons (Sacmill), which issued the original safety advice authorising the use of Tasers. It has also more recently been asked to assess the medical implications of using water cannon in England and Wales. | The inquiry is to be carried out by the scientific advisory committee for the medical implications of the use of less-lethal weapons (Sacmill), which issued the original safety advice authorising the use of Tasers. It has also more recently been asked to assess the medical implications of using water cannon in England and Wales. |
| The Home Office welcome the police chiefs decision to ask for anexpert review the safety of Tasers. “There is no suggestion that theircurrent assessment is outdated but it should be refreshed in light ofrecent cases so that it supports operational guidance and training,”said Home Office minister, Mike Penning. | |
| Basu said the police also supported a call from Begley’s mother, Dorothy, for the introduction of body-worn cameras by officers using Tasers. | Basu said the police also supported a call from Begley’s mother, Dorothy, for the introduction of body-worn cameras by officers using Tasers. |
| “I agree that they are a vital policing tool of the future. They are being increasingly used across the country and I completely support their introduction. I believe their use will improve behaviour on both sides and will demonstrate transparency in our organisation,” he said. | “I agree that they are a vital policing tool of the future. They are being increasingly used across the country and I completely support their introduction. I believe their use will improve behaviour on both sides and will demonstrate transparency in our organisation,” he said. |
| The move to an independent review of the official advice on the safety of using Tasers came as annual Home Office figures were published showing that their deployment has now been fully rolled out to forces across England and Wales. | The move to an independent review of the official advice on the safety of using Tasers came as annual Home Office figures were published showing that their deployment has now been fully rolled out to forces across England and Wales. |
| The Home Office figures show the police used stun guns on 10,062 occasion in 2014, a fall of 3% compared with 2013. This is the first year that their use has not increased since their introduction seven years ago. Officers authorised to carry Tasers undergo a three-day training programme. | The Home Office figures show the police used stun guns on 10,062 occasion in 2014, a fall of 3% compared with 2013. This is the first year that their use has not increased since their introduction seven years ago. Officers authorised to carry Tasers undergo a three-day training programme. |
| The annual data, whose publication was delayed because of an inquiry ordered by the home secretary, shows that in the vast majority of cases officers used their Tasers to “red-dot” suspects and only actually fired on 20% of occasions (1,724). | The annual data, whose publication was delayed because of an inquiry ordered by the home secretary, shows that in the vast majority of cases officers used their Tasers to “red-dot” suspects and only actually fired on 20% of occasions (1,724). |
| The figures follow the Begley inquest verdict on Monday that the use of a Taser materially contributed to his death, when he was hit with “distraction strikes” from a stun gun while being restrained and handcuffed. This was the first time an inquest jury has found the “less-lethal weapon” has contributed to a death. | The figures follow the Begley inquest verdict on Monday that the use of a Taser materially contributed to his death, when he was hit with “distraction strikes” from a stun gun while being restrained and handcuffed. This was the first time an inquest jury has found the “less-lethal weapon” has contributed to a death. |
| The use of Tasers has grown rapidly in England and Wales since their first mass rollout the past decade as a less-lethal alternative to the use of guns. The Home Office describes them as an “important tactical option to help specially trained officers resolve potentially violent situations safely”. | The use of Tasers has grown rapidly in England and Wales since their first mass rollout the past decade as a less-lethal alternative to the use of guns. The Home Office describes them as an “important tactical option to help specially trained officers resolve potentially violent situations safely”. |
| But their deployment has been controversial with Amnesty International among others describing them as potentially lethal and demanding they be withdrawn from use by non-specialist officers. | But their deployment has been controversial with Amnesty International among others describing them as potentially lethal and demanding they be withdrawn from use by non-specialist officers. |
| The annual figures on the police use of firearms published alongside the Taser statistics also show a 4% fall in their use in the 12 months to March 2014. | The annual figures on the police use of firearms published alongside the Taser statistics also show a 4% fall in their use in the 12 months to March 2014. |
| The police mounted 14,864 firearms operations during this period, including 12,061 involving the use of armed response vehicles, but only fired their weapons on two occasions. The number of specialist firearms officers has fallen further in the past year to 5,875 – a reduction of more than 1,000 or 15% since March 2009. | The police mounted 14,864 firearms operations during this period, including 12,061 involving the use of armed response vehicles, but only fired their weapons on two occasions. The number of specialist firearms officers has fallen further in the past year to 5,875 – a reduction of more than 1,000 or 15% since March 2009. |
| The publication of the annual Taser statistics was suspended by the home secretary, who ordered an in-depth review into their accuracy saying it was vital that the use of stun guns was transparent to the public. The published figures contain small revisions as a result of the review including the number of times Tasers were used in the first half of 2014 being revised downwards by 15, or 0.3%, and the figure for the number of times they were fired increased by 7. | The publication of the annual Taser statistics was suspended by the home secretary, who ordered an in-depth review into their accuracy saying it was vital that the use of stun guns was transparent to the public. The published figures contain small revisions as a result of the review including the number of times Tasers were used in the first half of 2014 being revised downwards by 15, or 0.3%, and the figure for the number of times they were fired increased by 7. |