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Taser is used for first time by PSNI
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Poll: Tasers and the police
Do you support the use of Tasers by the PSNI?
Do you support the use of Tasers by the PSNI?
| Yes, it is better than using firearms |
 56% |
| Yes, but only in exceptional circumstances |
 21% |
| No, I'm genuinely concerned about the safety of Tasers |
8% |
| No, the police should not have these weapons |
15% |
Police have used a Taser for the first time in Northern Ireland to subdue a father who had locked himself and his two children into a house, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
The PSNI confirmed that the weapon was used for the first time during an incident in the Galliagh area of Londonderry.
A spokeswoman said that after the episode in the early hours of Saturday, the man was detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act, and the children were returned safely to a family member.
There was controversy earlier this year when the PSNI revealed that it intended to use Tasers, a hand-held weapon that fires two wires that attach to the body and apply an electrical shock to incapacitate the target.
The police said in January that they had received permission from the Secretary of State to buy 12 Tasers, for use by specially trained officers.
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission claimed they could potentially violate Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning inhumane treatment and the right to life.
Professor Monica McWilliams, NIHRC's chief commissioner, said at that time that the commission was not opposed to police officers having access to less lethal alternatives than firearms, but added that there were genuine concern about the safety of Tasers.
A PSNI spokeswoman today confirmed that the weapon had been used in Derry.
The police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to a domestic related incident in the Galliagh area of Londonderry shortly before 3am on Saturday morning (August 16). It was reported that a man had locked himself in a house along with his two young children.
“A Taser unit was discharged by specialist firearms officers during the incident, as an appropriate and proportionate tactical option, to bring the matter to a safe conclusion.
“At around 6:50am, one 37-year-old man was arrested and was subsequently detained under the Mental Health Act.
“The children were safely returned to a family member.
“The Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland (PONI) was informed and are carrying out an investigation in line with agreed PSNI protocols.”
The chairman of the District Policing Partnership for the Derry City Council area, Shaun Gallagher today said his party — the SDLP — does not support the use of Tasers.
He added: “I am glad that this incident came to a successful conclusion and that no-one, including the children was hurt.”
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Comments
23 Comments
Canada is probably further along in the taser debate than any other country.
Google the Canadian blogs 'Truth ... Not Tasers' and Excited-Delirium.com (don't forget the dash) for a good review.
With respect to the old and stale argument "Just obey and you won't be tasered...", it's been proven wrong many times in cases where people in diabetic comas have been tasered. Or a wee lad with a broken back tasered 19 times because he wouldn't obey an order to stand up. Or the poor victim in England that was (without warning) tasered in the head in a case of mistaken identity.
And what about the poor kid in Australia that did "choose to obey" an order (backed up with the threat of a good tasering) to lie down in the street and was promptly run over and killed.
Sorry, there are much better arguments than the old "just obey..." lie that have been shredded.
Posted by Excited-Delirium.com | 06.04.09, 04:01 GMT
Anyone interested in the Taser would enjoy "TASERED," a controversial best-seller about the police stun gun, now available at Club Lighthouse Publishing.
Posted by Renshaw | 15.09.08, 22:20 GMT
Considering there are only a dozen qualified officers, I doubt the officers will become lazy.. and considering they all had to wait until one of the officers (of the group of a dozen or so, specially trained), came up from Belfast, shows how seriously the police are taking its use.
Posted by Neill | 23.08.08, 01:32 GMT
I read a report of a guy in the US who was in the throes of an epileptic fit in front of his own house clearly needing medical care, but he was actually tasered to death by police - the police fearing that they were being confronted by a dangerous and violent nutcase rather than someone who was in grave need of medical care...Hopefully, recognising this kind of situation would form part of the police training.
As for the PSNI being a reference of police conduct, let's hope they are better than their predecessors the RUC.
Posted by Patsy | 22.08.08, 21:25 GMT
Im sick of all this left wing nicey nicey toward the criminal! If you break the law, you should be prepared for the consequences! Isnt it also a police officers human right to be able to defend him/herself??? If I where a cop in a hostile situation, physical restraint is not always the answer! So bring on more tasers! I guaranteee anyone in a hostile situation would like a taser on them, cop or not! We have seen a softy softy approach toward criminals way too long, and it seems these left wing groups are in the monority, but they have the biggest voice, seems to me they have never been face to face with crime, maybe if they had they would change their opinion!
Posted by Gary | 22.08.08, 20:41 GMT
As a former police officer in the States, I can guarantee that every department has a written policy as to when officers can and cannot use a taser. Therefore this idea of the taser being used by a "lazy" officer is just ludicrous. If "lazy" officers were using them whenever they wanted to they would be fired and probably sued. My former department only allowed for tasered to be used if a suspect was resisting arrest, nothing less. Also the idea that it is safer for an officer to fight a suspect is also crazy. The affects from a taser are less harsh then a good beat down. Most people that died during incidents where tasers were deployed were either A. on drugs or B. had a medical condition. Are officers supposed to stop and ask each suspect if they fit these situations before deploying the taser??
Posted by Tara | 22.08.08, 20:27 GMT
Gracey - I'm not sure if you are from Northern Ireland, so I can perhaps assist with the point you made. If a PSNI officer draws his / her firearm during an incident, even if it is not fired, the matter is independently investigated by the Police Ombudsmans' Office. Unlike American cop shows, the PSNI have to follow strict guidelines in the use of weapons and the actions of officers are closely monitored by their superiors. A "lazy" PSNI officer using a Taser or firearm would very likely become an ex-officer. So I think comments / concerns expressed on this board about "lazy" officers using Tasers etc, are somewhat misplaced. In reality, many police services around the world, now use the PSNI as a benchmark for various police procedures. If Tasers have previously been misused by police elsewhere in the world, it's not the PSNI's fault.
Posted by ProActive Karma | 22.08.08, 18:52 GMT
Bottom line: if you do not wish to be arrested, jailed, shot with Tazers, sprayed with Mace pepper spray, handcuffed or restrained by any of the legally approved methods, the choice is simple - OBEY THE LAW and you will have nothing to fear from the security forces!
Posted by David | 22.08.08, 16:00 GMT
PD Whistle makes a very sensible comment. Tasers are a useful alternative to lethal force and I do think they have a role to play here, but their use should always be as a last resort - lazy officers should not be allowed to deploy them at the drop of a hat and there should always be a full investigation after a taser is used, just as there is with a firearm.
Posted by Gracey | 22.08.08, 14:14 GMT
The police are not using them against people going about their business just criminals. If their weak hearts do not prevent them from doing the crime then it should not be taken into consideration when trying to police the crime. Maybe our world would be a better place if we supported the police and not the criminal!!
Posted by ashlene999 | 22.08.08, 13:26 GMT
Maybe as an alternative the police should be issued with water pistols to protect us from the bad men, and fear not, I have not forgotten about the effectiveness of the dreaded 'warning letter' to scare off the thug attacking the the old lady in her home.
Ban these nasty Taser guns now, or some thug might get hurt and that would most certainly infringe their human rights!!
Posted by T.J.McClean | 22.08.08, 12:37 GMT
Greer17, I take it you are commenting on the sensible comments of John @ hcl and ProActive Karma. John Brett makes a good statement, "we all expect the Police to provide security and protection for the public, but it would seem that they are not supposed to be able to defend themselves".
I agree with all three comments, but especially John Brett's. "hello, I'm a Policeman, but I am not going to stop you hurting me ! I dont think so. The Lethal version of this is MLA Ian Paisley jnr's comments after Lisnaskea. Again I fully support his comments.
Posted by Pauls59 | 22.08.08, 12:28 GMT
The use of a taser is one level down from using a firearm to stop a threat of death or serious harm to a citizen or police officer. It should be mandatory that each and every time a taser or firearm is used there shoud be a use of force report and a breifing as to the accountability of using the weapon. Certainly there are citizens with health issues where a taser could cause death, but once a firearem or taser are presented to the suspect, I strongly suggest you do as the bloody officer is telling you. Your foolish actions will being serious consequences if you don't comply. There are definately risks of injury in police work and officers are aware of this when they chose this profession. Firearms and Tasers should be used as the last resort and "NOT TO PUNISH SOME IDIOT " WHICH SOME CERTAINLY DO. Earl-Canadian Copper
Posted by Earl-Canadian Copper | 22.08.08, 12:14 GMT
Thank god someone is talking sense on these notice boards. I feel that it is getting harder and harder for the police, fire service and NHS to do their jobs. I also know that no service is perfect and there are lazy people in everyone of the mentioned services. But I think a Taser was the acceptable method rather discharging a firearm in a household with already distressed children in the same room.
Posted by Greer17 | 22.08.08, 11:15 GMT
Firing 50000 volts at someone is not without side effects. It will affect delicate brain cells like electro-cunvulsive therapy.
Posted by tom | 22.08.08, 10:43 GMT
We all expect the police to provide security and protection for the public, but it would seem that they are not supposed to be able to defend themselves. This is ludicrous. Police officers have to be able to defend themselves and also be able to defend members of the public who are in danger either to themselves or to others, and to this end I view taser guns as the best option. It certainly is the less lethal option. Tasers are only used by specialist officers and will only be used as a last resort. I feel we should be supporting our police officers ,who are out there often in very difficult circumstances, and not vilifying them at every opportunity.
Posted by John Brett | 22.08.08, 09:54 GMT
Kyle bring back the plastic bullets where have you came up with that in your own head to be a good option to consider?
Posted by GAWA | 22.08.08, 09:34 GMT
what is the alternative if someone has a weak heart? Shooting them with a handgun to incapacitate them will surley leave them worse off than using a taser, the term "less lethal" is the peferred term for the use of tazers. There may be faitalities, but clearly much fewer faitalities than the use of conventional fire-arms.
From reading the article it seems to me that the taser was easily the safest option, the man wasnt shot, he's still alive, and a fire-arm wasnt discharged in the property and the children are now in a safe environment. People need to get off their high horses and look at things objectivly from the PSNI's point of view, what was the alternative in a situation like this?
Posted by john @ hcl | 22.08.08, 09:19 GMT
I think its disgusting that you are using the taser guns! What if you hit someone with the taser that has a weak heart or something and it kills them ? WISE up and use some common sense and use brute force and persuasion like a cop should!! You can hardly do anything these days without health and safety issues and cops can use taser guns! I think the government over here needs a good shake and told to wise up! One rule for the public and one rule for the feds!!
Posted by Glenn Belfast | 22.08.08, 07:18 GMT
Tom Doyle & PD Whistle - Perhaps you missed the fact that there were two small children inside the house with the man, who was subsequently "detained" under the mental health act. The safety of the children locked inside the house, would also be a factor in how police responded. Judging by the outcome, the operation was 100% successful. The children were quickly rescued, and the man is still alive, thereby proving Tasers are less lethal than a couple of bullets in the brain, which would be the alternative 100% guaranteed method of instantly incapacitating someone. As far as "sticky nets" are concerned, they won't necessarily stop someone squeezing a trigger etc, therefore unless Spiderman joins the PSNI, I think Taser will have to remain the preferred option.
Posted by ProActive Karma | 21.08.08, 20:54 GMT
23 Comments