TASER.ORG.UK

“Can the Direct Cardiac Effects of the Electric Pulses Generated by the TASER X26 Cause Immediate or Delayed Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Normal Adults?” is the title of a research paper produced by Ideker RE and Dosdall DJ. From the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. USA.

Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2007 Sep;28(3):195-201

The first line of their abstract is:

There is only a small amount of experimental data about whether the TASER X26, a nonlethal weapon that delivers a series of brief electrical pulses to cause involuntary muscular contraction to temporarily incapacitate an individual, can initiate ventricular fibrillation to cause sudden cardiac arrest either immediately or sometime after its use.

What they appear to have done is compare the specifications of the weapon with what is currently thought to be the amount of electro-stimulation of the heart required to cause damage. They have not done any experiments with the weapon, yet still feel able to conclude: “… it is highly unlikely that the TASER X26 can cause ventricular fibrillation minutes to hours after its use through direct cardiac effects of the electric field generated by the TASER.”

Tasers: Increased deployment marks the start of a slippery slope is the headline of Amnesty International’s press release.

Amnesty International believes that Tasers can only be used if:

• Tasers are only used as an alternative to lethal force where situation presents an immediate threat of death or serious injury to officers or others
• Officers carrying Tasers are trained to firearms standards on an ongoing basis
• Roll-out is highly restricted and then only to specially trained officers
• The Home Office has demonstrated how the use of Taser will be consistent with its obligations under international human rights guidelines and what policies and procedures are in place to prevent misuse of electro-shock weapons.

As far as Amnesty International is aware, none of these things has been spelt out and therefore Amnesty continues to oppose widespread deployment beyond the current policy of Specialist Firearms Officers.

Amnesty International’s Arms Programme Director, Oliver Sprague said:

‘We’re worried that this could be the start of a slippery slope - towards further arming of the police, or towards a situation like that in the US where Tasers have been widely misused and people have died.

• Chief constable zapped by Taser BBC News
• VIDEO: Police chief hit by Taser - The Metro
• Brunstrom gets tasered - Motorcycle News
• More police to use stun guns - Grantham Journal
• More police to get stun guns- Stamford Today

See the Video and Chief Constable Brunstom’s proud claims to have issued “Substantial Numbers” of rural officers with the weapons here.

The North Wales Police Chief’s TASERing video:

The North Wales Police Chief Constable’s Blog Post accompanying the TASERing he states:

We have therefore just issued Tasers to a substantial number of officers based in the more rural parts of the force and will be measuring the effects over the next year or so.

Do a “Substantial Number” of North Wales Police Officers in rural areas need TASERs?

“You will not enjoy the consequences of disobedience” - Why is he being so threatening?

He experienced a 1.5 second jolt, the default setting is 5 seconds.