Correspondence from the Home Secretary
to the Chair
Thank you for your letter of 11 October seeking clarification
on the police use of Taser following the events in Northumbria
in July 2010.
Authorised Firearms Officers can deploy Taser, and
following the success of a 12 month trial, police officers in
specially trained units are now able to use Taser in accordance
with current Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) policy
and guidance. This clearly sets out that Taser can only be used
by such specially trained units where officers would be facing
violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would
need to use force to protect the public, themselves and/or the
subject. The latest ACPO policy and operational guidance documents
can be found at www.westmercia.police.uk.
Taser is only deployed where there is a serious threat
of violence and by officers who have been carefully selected and
trained in its use. The police use of Taser in England and Wales
has shown that it provides an additional and less lethal option
for police when dealing with violent or threatening situations
and has contributed to resolving incidents without injury. Taser
is used to resolve potentially dangerous situations, which may
previously have necessitated a firearms response.
Taser has been used over 6,000 times since 2004.
There have been no serious injuries or deaths. In the vast majority
of occasions where Taser is used, it is not discharged. In around
two thirds of all cases, drawing, aiming, or red-dotting (the
red dot laser sight is activated and placed on a subject but the
Taser is not fired) is sufficient to resolve and manage a violent
incident.
As you know, the Independent Police Complaints Commission
has confirmed two officers armed with X12 (long range) Tasers
discharged their weapons at Raoul Moat in Northumbria. This is
understood to have been in an effort to prevent Mr Moat taking
his own life. The IPCC investigation includes a review of the
tactics used and will consider the deployment and use of the X12
Taser.
The IPCC investigation must be allowed to continue
and reach its conclusion and it would therefore be inappropriate
for me to comment any further. I can tell you, however, that police
forces have discretion to use the equipment they see fit as long
as the use of force is lawful, reasonable and proportionate.
The use of less-lethal weaponry is regulated through
a process for approval set out in a Home Office Code of Practice
on police use of firearms which Chief Constables must 'have regard
to'. The X12 Taser is not approved for use by forces in England
and Wales and is currently subject to testing by the Home Office
Scientific Development Branch.
2 November 2010
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