Police in the North urged to dump taser gun plans
Human rights campaigners today called on the police in the North to learn from the experience of their American counterparts and bin plans to introduce taser guns.
The plea was issued by Dalia Hashad, an Amnesty International representative from Washington DC, during a seminar on the electric shock weapon which is used by forces in England and Scotland as well as the United States.
The seminar, which was also addressed by Mark Schlosberg of the American Civil Liberties Union, was attended by senior PSNI officers, members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Police Ombudsman, the Oversight Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission, politicians, community groups and charities.
Ms Hashad said before the event more than 200 people have died since 2001 in the United States after being shot with tasers.
“The US experience is that the taser can be a lethal weapon,” she said.
“Sadly, many American families have discovered that in the hardest possible way. So we understand why many people in Northern Ireland are concerned at their possible introduction here.
“If the PSNI were to ask our advice based on the US experience, the response would be simple: don’t.”
In March the Northern Ireland Policing Board extended its consultation period over Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde’s plan to introduce 50,000 volt taser guns.
Board members agreed the PSNI should undertake an equality screening exercise on the impact of the introduction of the weapons and to ensure all groups were given a say on the proposal.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director called for more research to be done on the weapon before any decision was taken to introduce the guns in the province.
“Life and death questions remain about taser safety,” he said.
“Amnesty International believes there must be further independent research into the safety of tasers before any decision can be taken about possible deployment by the PSNI.
“Until such research is produced, the Chief Constable should reconsider his proposal and the Policing Board should reject his request for support.”
