Police forces adopt taser pilot scheme

Five police forces across the UK are set to adopt a non-lethal stun gun in a pilot scheme starting today.

The operational trial of the Advanced Taser M26 will see it used by officers in the Met, Thames Valley, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and North Wales police forces.

The taser is an alternative to firearms and is effective up to a range of 21 feet. The M26 fires two prongs carrying a 50,000 volt sting which temporarily incapacitates the victim. Taser International, the company supplying the device, says that the M26 taser induces "electro-physical, involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle tissue" which "directly stimulates motor nerve and muscle tissue, causing incapacitation".

Police Complaints Authority deputy chair Wendy Towers, said: "We welcome the extension of the range of less lethal options open to police. The majority of people shot by police belong to a vulnerable population group, those who are drunk, mentally ill or suicidal and it is essential that the development of less lethal options takes account of this group."

Tom Smith, president of Taser International, said: "After two years of intense test and evaluation, we are elated to see the UK welcome our proven technology. This new technology will improve he capacity and professionalism of the British police."

However, human rights group Amnesty International has claimed that three people have allegedly died in the US in the past year after being struck with tasers.

Amnesty added: "Although most such deaths have been attributed to other factors, medical experts have expressed concern about the health risks associated with electro-shock weapons, as well as their potential for abuse."

The human rights group claimed that there had been "no thorough, independent and impartial evaluation of the medical effects of electro-shock weapons". Taser, however, say the weapon has been design tested by "over 1,000 law enforcement trainers". It takes around four hours to train officers to use it.

The beginning of the pilot scheme came on the same day that Home Secretary David Blunkett launched the anti-gun charity, the Disarm Trust.

At the launch, Mr Blunkett said: "I am pleased to support the Disarm Trust which I am sure will make a significant contribution to the drive to tackle gun crime. The government, working with the community, law enforcement agencies and others, is determined to rid our streets of firearms."

(GMcG)