Concerns raised over introduction of TASER guns

Politicians and Human Rights Campaigners have raised their concerns to the Policing Board after proposals were revealed to issue members of the PSNI with 50,000-volt TASER stun guns.

The move has been made to urge an extension of the public consultation from two weeks, to 12 weeks.

Professor McWilliams of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission today criticised the speed at which it had been planned to introduce the TASER gun to the province.

She said: "The short consultation period has not allowed for sufficient involvement of this commission or other organisations to assess this crucial decision.

"We strongly urge the Policing Board to take more time to consider whether or not to introduce TASERs, to provide more detailed information as part of a consultation process, and ensure that it hears a wide range of views before taking a final decision."

A total of 61 people died last year in the US after being shot with stun guns, and there are also concerns relating their impact on vulnerable groups.

At a meeting today, the NI Policing Board asked the Chief Constable to conduct further consultation on his intention to purchase 12 of the stun guns for Specialist Firearms Officers within PSNI.

Board Members decided that the views expressed during the consultation exercise pointed clearly to the PSNI undertaking an equality screening exercise and necessary follow-up arising from such screening.

The Board also agreed to seek the opinion of its expert Human Rights Advisors on the introduction of TASER.

The chairman of the Policing Board, Sir Desmond Rea, said the Board had requested the PSNI complete an "equality screening exercise".

He said it was essential to ensure that the PSNI adequately considered the impact of the introduction of TASER guns and to ensure that all groups have been given the opportunity to comment on the limited introduction of the stun guns.

He said: "The Policing Board recognises that the debate around the use of TASER, as with all less lethal weaponry, is one of legitimate public interest, and that a decision on this matter should not be taken lightly."

Amnesty International's NI Programme Director, Patrick Corrigan, today claimed that vulnerable groups including children, the disabled, pregnant women and the mentally ill were particularly at risk and added that the group's research in the US has shown that TASERs can kill.

He said: "Arming all PSNI officers with a potentially lethal device that delivers a 50,000 volt electric shock, causing the subject to collapse in intolerable pain, would not be a wise or welcome move."

Mr Corrigan concluded by saying that there should be no consideration of such a move without a full, public inquiry into the safety of TASER's and their potential impact on policing here.

(EF/SP)