TASER used by [Apparantly] Non-Firearms Police in North Wales
The BBC is Reporting : “Taser fired as three fight in pub” - 30 September 2007.
“A Taser electronic stun gun has been used by North Wales Police to break up a fight between three men in a pub.
Two officers at first used CS spray to try to stop the fight at the Black Horse in Penycae, Wrexham.”
The BBC news site does not yet state how the TASER was used, was it just brandished, arced, fired, or used to stun without firing the barbs?
The report states there were no injuries caused by the TASER.
North Wales Police have said they were arming 28 officers in rural areas with TASERs, with one of the main arguments being that backup might be a long time coming in rural areas. Is Penycae a rural area?
The article originally stated the North Wales Police Chief was “shot” by a TASER. He was not shot. His blog carries an explanation of what happened:
“For the purpose of the demonstration, one probe was attached to the Chief Constable’s left shoulder and the second probe was attached to his right ankle before the device was activated for a period of 1.5 seconds”
The BBC site said:
“The footage showed him being supported by two officers as he is shot in the back with a Taser by a third officer.”
It has now been corrected to “The footage showed him being supported by two officers as he is zapped with a Taser by a third officer.”, I had pointed out the mistake.
