North Devon police get Taser guns

MORE than 50 police officers in North Devon and Torridge will carry electric Taser guns in the near future.

The devices, which incapacitate subjects with a 50,000 volt shock, are being given to officers across the country.

Tasers work by shooting two metal barbs into the skin or clothing of a subject while delivering an electric charge.

The shock causes the loss of some voluntary muscle movement and forces victims to the ground. They can be used from 20 feet away.

Specialist firearms officers in North Devon have carried Tasers since 2004 but so far they have been used only five times.

Inspector Vince Puffitt, geographic support inspector at Barnstaple police station, is responsible for nominating local officers for the training.

He said: "Initial Taser training takes four days and every year officers have to undergo a compulsory one-day refresher course.

"The devices, which you may well see several officers carrying in the near future, are bright yellow and designed to be highly visible.

"The roll-out of tasers started in January this year and is a national initiative funded by the Home Office. It is not in response to an increase of violence or crime in North Devon."

Tasers were nationally piloted in 2004 at several locations in the UK including Torbay in South Devon.

Mike Griffin, operations training manager for Devon and Cornwall police, said: "The 50 officers chosen to carry Tasers in North Devon represent a mixture of ranks but they are mainly response officers because they deal most with conflict.

"The officers have been chosen based on how many are on duty at any one time to give us a wide spread over the North Devon area.

"In future Tasers might be rolled out to more officers but, at a cost of £1,000 each, there is an obvious cost implication."

Insp Puffitt said: "The Taser's main value lies in its use as a deterrent. When aimed the device makes a red laser dot on whatever it is pointed at.

"In the vast majority of cases when people have Tasers pointed at them they stop what they are doing and start behaving immediately.

"It's an excellent piece of equipment for officers in North Devon as it helps to provide an early, peaceful resolution to conflicts.

"People seem to perceive the danger associated with Tasers but they are actually a lot safer than batons or pepper spray, which can leave subjects harmed or injured in the long term.

"Tasers can be used on people of all ages but it must be justified and there is a substantial amount of paper work attached."

Human rights group Amnesty International has described Tasers as "extremely dangerous weapons" which it believes are "inherently open to abuse".

Amnesty arms campaigner Oliver Sprague, said: "Amnesty remains opposed to the wide deployment of Tasers within UK police forces. Over 330 people have died in North America in recent years after being struck with a Taser.

"This is why they should only be used in situations where there is an immediate and serious threat to life or of very serious injury.

"Meanwhile, they should be kept in the hands of a limited number of highly-trained officers."

But Insp Puffitt said: "Subjects recover almost immediately after being shocked and, to date, there have been no long term adverse effects recorded in the UK.

"Tasers have been used no more than five times in North Devon and Torridge and I expect that low usage to continue."