This could very well turn into a debate over the rights and wrongs of the proposed increase in taser carrying amongst the police, but I'd like to start with some questions. I've searched around for this and can't seem to find it, the Org being the font of all knowledge etc...
- Currently the IPCC investigate as a matter of routine fatal shootings (actually, not sure, do they investigate all weapon discharges or just those that end in a dead body?), will they be doing the same with taser incidents?
- Will anyone investigate as a matter of routine every taser discharge or is it left to the discretion of the officers involved?
- Can you tell if a taser has been discharged? Ie. handing it in to the armoury at the end of the shift and the armourer would be able to tell it's been discharged and want to know what happened?
- Rules for discharging a firearm appear to be that it can only be done so at the perceived iminent risk to life - are these the same rules that are applied to taser usage or are they to be used in other situations? Resisting arrest? Running away? Already on the ground?
The
Brunstrom piece made me think - "
I was completely incapable of movement. I would have fallen if I hadn't been supported by my colleagues." - it won't be long before a suspect falls and cracks their skull on a kerbstone. The first few times it'll be a genuine scrote, but sooner or later the suspect will be just that - a suspect, subsequently found to be completely innocent. I would have thought that falling injuries are going to be quite common, given that it acts on the nervous system such that you can't use your arms to cushion your fall; all the "don't worry, it's safe, here's another police chief being zapped video" have people catching the victim, obviously this ain't going to be the case out on them mean streets.