BBC Radio 4 - All in the Mind
On 14th November 2007 a BBC Radio 4 show discussed TASER use around the world.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/allinthemind.shtml
The programme is currently available to listen to online.
The focus of the programme was the use of TASERs by the police against the mentally ill.
Inspector Simon Williams, head of operational training at Northamptonshire police, showed reporter Angela Robson, how a taser works and discussed the importance of teaching officers to deal with people who appear to be mentally ill.
Dr Raj Persaud spoke to Tony O
November 18th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I wrote an email to Dr Bleetman and am reproducing his reply here as it for the first time:
1. Shows his support for deployment of TASERs to non-firearms police in the UK.
2. Lets us know he was paid $2500 by TASER international for conducting a review. The radio program did not mention the payment at all and his article in Emerg. Med. J mentions it without the amount. His journal articlea are not Googleable as the Emerg. Med. J article is behind a registration page, and his other article on TASERs in Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine is only available to paying subscribers. He was speaking to the public on Radio 4, it is that audience who I note were not made aware of his conflict of interest. I hope publishing this comment will, albeit in a small way, help address that omission.
Dr Bleetman wrote:
I believe that if deployed appropriately, Taser represents the safest of all currently available less lethal options to terminate conflict. The key to minimising risk is appropriate deployment. It should NOT be restricted to forearms officers as it is safer than batons and dogs and will be of benefit to non-firearms officers facing serious physical threats and should in my opinion be deployed before they draw a baton. We should campaign for measured and appropriate deployment not a ban. There is mounting evidence of reduction in injury rates when Taser is deployed.
Your comment on declaring the $2500 payment for several weeks work on preparing a comprehensive literature review implies that I’ve tried to conceal this - it couldn’t be declared more widely as you will see from my published and peer-reviewed work under conflict of interests. I find the insinuation quite unpleasant and a barrier to meaningful dialogue.
Anthony Bleetman
PhD FRCSEd FCEM DipIMC RCSEd
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Director Helicopter Emergency Medicine
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer in Surgery
University of Birmingham
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer
Centre for Primary Health Care Studies
University of Warwick
[Further Contact information removed]