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azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3776

see - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4465384.stm

Police use Taser for first time

Tasers deliver a 50,000 volt charge through two barbs
Police in Scotland have used a Taser gun for the first time when they were called to deal with reports of an attempted robbery in North Lanarkshire.

The suspect was overpowered by the weapon, which fires 50,000 volts, at about 2120 GMT on Wednesday.

The incident happened at a petrol station in Newmains, near Wishaw.

Police said a 39-year-old man had been released from hospital. He was arrested and was being held in police custody in connection with the incident.

A report was due to be sent to the procurator fiscal and the man was expected to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court at a future date.

Police in Strathclyde have been carrying Tasers since September and became the first in Scotland to use the weapons.

Only trained firearms officers with the Strathclyde force have been permitted to use the Tasers, which were seen as a less lethal option than conventional firearms.

But opponents point to deaths in the US which they claim were caused by the gun, although none of the several lawsuits filed there for wrongful death have yet succeeded.

The fact that the guy had to go to hospital - even as a precautionary method - shows how ridiculously dangerous this tool is. Mad

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SLG · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject:

Still I'd rather they were using this than 'conventional firearms'. It seems a bit odd that it was used in this occasion though. They say an attempted robbery was taking place, but they don't say that the man was armed. Fair enough having these tasers as a tool, but they should be used sparingly.

SLG · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject:

Well, they are now saying he was armed. He was also sent to hospital for a check up, but is fine. I think under these circumstances the use of tasers is acceptable. They are not being issued as routine, but to trained firearms officers.

sandmountainslim · Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:26 pm Post subject:

As some of you know I am a Councilman in the town that I live in, our police officers have been equipped with tasers for around one year, we had our first incident of an officer using the taser on a suspect last month and word on the street is we are soon to have our first taser related lawsuit due to the action, I have mixed emotions concerning tasers, our police have been carrying guns for a century or so without shooting anyone, 11 months with a taser and we are off to a start, I also realize that tasers are an effective alternative to deadly force, does the good outway the bad? I honestly do not know. The City of Birmingham, Alabama which is about 75 miles southwest of us has recently banned tasers for police use, I would like to read their report concerning misuse and find out why they decided on the ban.
Deo Vindice
WP
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trueblue · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 11:14 am Post subject:

maybe the police officers involved did not say please when the they asked the armed robber to stop commiting an offence.

maybe they should have offered him a run home and given him a warning.
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