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UK: Police given go-ahead to use Taser on children |
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26 Oct 2007
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Your owners show their colors. Again. |
Now Police Can Use Taser Guns On Children
Now police are told they can use Taser guns on children
By JASON LEWIS
Police have been given the go-ahead to use Taser stun guns against children.
The relaxing of restrictions on the use of the weapons comes despite warnings that they could trigger a heart attack in youngsters.
much more here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article
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26 Oct 2007Login » Register »
News
Now police are told they can use Taser guns on children
By JASON LEWIS - More by this author »
Last updated at 15:27pm on 2nd September 2007
Comments (26)
Police have been given the go-ahead to use Taser stun guns against children.
The relaxing of restrictions on the use of the weapons comes despite warnings that they could trigger a heart attack in youngsters.
Until now, Tasers - which emit a 50,000-volt electric shock - have been used only by specialist officers as a "non lethal" alternative to firearms.
Scroll down for more ...
Stun gun: Tasers give off a 50,000 volt blast
However, they can now be used against all potentially violent offenders even if they are unarmed.
It is the decision not to ban their use against minors that is likely to raise serious concerns.
Home Office Police Minister Tony McNulty said medical assessments had confirmed the risk of death or serious injury from Tasers was "low".
But he failed to mention Government advisers had also warned of a potential risk to children.
The Defence Scientific Advisory Council medical committee told the Home Office that not enough was known about the health risks of using the weapons against children.
Tasers work by firing metal barbs into the skin which then discharge an electrical charge which is designed to disable someone long enough to allow police to detain them safely.
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The committee, which is made up of independent scientists and doctors, said that limited research suggested there was a risk children could suffer "a serious cardiac event".
It recommended that officers should be "particularly vigilant" for any Taser-induced adverse response and said guidance should be amended to "identify children and adults of small stature" as being at potentially greater risk from the cardiac effects of Tasers.
The Government scientists were also asked to test whether the weapons could cause a miscarriage if used on a pregnant woman.
While not saying whether police would be allowed to Taser an expectant mother, the Home Office said the DSAC committee had "specifically asked" for computer simulations to be carried out to analyse the effect on "a pregnant female".
Amnesty International claims Tasers have been responsible for 220 deaths in America since 2001. Many cities and police forces there have banned their use against minors.
Two years ago in Chicago a 14-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest after being shot with one. Medics had to use a defibrillator four times to resuscitate him.
Taser International, the American firm that makes the device, said tests on pigs suggested the weapons were safe.
The Association of Chief Police Officers, which issues guidance to forces on the use of weapons, said Tasers would be made "readily available" for "conflict management" at incidents of "violence and threats of violence of such severity that they will need force".
Non-firearms officers in ten forces will be trained to use the weapons. Every incident they are involved in will be assessed over a 12-month trial period.
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Add your comment | View all Comments (26)
26 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below.
Here's a sample of the latest comments published. You can click view all to read all comments that readers have sent in.
The body count in North American now stands at 287 after having been tasered with this "less than lethal" device. 15 Canadians and 272 Americans since 2001, 9 dead in August of this year alone.
- Riki Bagnell, Prince Edward Island, Canada
You English have gone completely stark raving mad! I now totally understand why my parents emigrated! At least we might have a few more years before you export this madness to us. Turning off your telly, spending less time at the pub and for a few minutes a day teaching and loving your children when they are young might be a start to solving your problems instead of getting big brother to electrocute them.
- Robert Davies, Toronto Canada
Where do you get these little gadgets from and please stop all this police state rubbish and send in the next offender.
- Kevfra, Portsmouth UK
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