http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article3670009.ece
Met faces high court challenge over huge rise in use of Tasers
Fiona
Hamilton Crime
Correspondent
Britain’s biggest police force is
facing landmark legal action over its widespread use of Tasers amid increasing
complaints about the controversial devices, The Times has learnt.
The Commissioner of the
Metropolitan Police is accused of acting unlawfully by approving the
introduction of Tasers to every response vehicle in London without public
consultation.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will be
challenged in the High Court over plans to increase the number of Tasers by
more than 700 per cent, a decision made after the attempted murder of two
officers who were unable to bring down an assailant with their standard-issue
CS gas, batons and shields.
There is growing concern among
rights campaigners and some politicians over the use of Tasers, which emit a
charge of up to 50,000 volts and can temporarily disable suspects.
The Independent Police Complaints
Commission watchdog announced an investigation last week into the arrest of a
44-year-old man who died three months after being shot with a Taser. Martin
Baskeyfield was admitted to hospital five days after the incident on September
29 and died on January 14.
An inquest also continues into the death
of Dale Burns, a 27-year-old bodybuilder who died hours after he was
tasered four times in less than a minute by police as they struggled to arrest
him. Last month a Freedom of Information request revealed that complaints about
Tasers had risen to one every three days. Complainants included a 14-year-old
who was accidentally shot by officers in Nottingham, a “good Samaritan” who was
trying to help police, and two cyclists.
While senior officers claim
Tasers have reduced the number of assaults on police and make the public safer,
critics say that they should not be used widely because their health effects
are still unknown. There are also fears that they are being used when a suspect
could be brought down without them.
The action against the Met is
being brought by a man who wishes to remain anonymous and claims to have
suffered breathing difficulties after he was tasered in November 2011. The
26-year-old, who was tasered when being recalled to prison for breaching his
bail, claimed that it was unnecessary because he was not resisting arrest.
Sophie Khan, his lawyer, said that the man, who is already suing for assault,
battery and inhumane and degrading treatment, would also seek a judicial review
of the Met’s Taser introduction.
Sir Bernard will receive a letter
today advising that the legal action will be lodged in the High Court if the
policy is not immediately withdrawn.
After the attack on the two
police constables in November 2011, the Commissioner said that he wanted stun
guns in everyday use by response cars.They have been introduced in six areas
but will be extended to all 32 London boroughs, increasing the number of Tasers
from 800 to more than 6,500.
Taser International’s website
says that a number of independent reviews have “affirmed the safety and
life-saving value of Taser technology as a safer, more effective use of force”.
Shock tactics
· Tasers are sold in 107 countries
and are used routinely throughout the UK, the Continent, US and Canada
· Tasers are legal for civilian use
in all but seven US states. In 2010, 79 per cent of Taser International’s
$86.9m revenue came from US sales
· French city mayors are allowed to
decide whether to allocate the weapon to municipal policemen
· Tasers were introduced to Britain
with a 12-month in 2003. Their use was extended across England and Wales in
2008 In 2004-10, they were used 8,599 times across England and Wales
Source: Times research
Quoted in the Evening Standard
The action against the Met is being brought by a 26-year-old man who claims to have suffered breathing difficulties after he was Tasered by officers in November 2011. His lawyer, Sophie Khan, said the anonymous man is already suing for assault, battery and inhumane and degrading treatment.
She told The Times that her client, who was Tasered when being recalled to prison for breaching his bail, is seeking a judicial review of the Met’s Taser introduction. Ms Khan, who specialises in actions against the police, said that the Met had not taken account of health and safety concerns.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/met-faces-landmark-ruling-for-unlawful-mass-rollout-of-tasers-in-police-cars-8469470.html
Radio Interview for LBC.97.3
His lawyer Sophie Khan has told us public safety is being compromised.
"They are used very much for compliance, they are used in the wrong situations and that use is increasing every single week and every single month and it needs to be directed and restricted to the right situations."
http://www.lbc.co.uk/met-faces-taser-legal-fight-66513
TV Interview for BBC London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qb5td
