Interviewed on BBC Berkshire on the increased use of Tasers in Thames Valley.
Charity criticises police over Taser use
Amnesty International concerned after instances of Taser use by Thames Valley police double from 2012 to 2013
Press Association The Guardian,
Press Association The Guardian,
Thames Valley police announced last year that it was increasing the number of officers equipped with Tasers from 280 to 485. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA
A police force that almost doubled its use of Tasers last year has been criticised by Amnesty International UK. Thames Valley police revealed that its officers deployed electric stun guns 119 times in 2013, compared with 61 occasions in 2012.
The figures for last year include several instances of "drive stun" usage, when a Taser is directly applied to a person's clothes or body. In January 2013 the force announced it would increase the number of officers equipped with Tasers from 280 to 485.
Amnesty International UK has called for the use of the weapons to be restricted to officers trained to the standard of specialist firearms personnel.
Oliver Sprague, a director at the charity, said: "Without urgently needed new safeguards, and at these significantly increased rates of usage, it's surely only a matter of time before something goes horribly wrong when a Thames Valley Police officer fires a Taser weapon.
"We've always said that Tasers can have a part to play in policing operations where there's a clear risk of death or serious injury to police officers or members of the public - but Tasers should be used sparingly and only by highly trained officers."
In 2004, following a trial in five forces, it was agreed to allow chief officers of all police forces in England and Wales to make Tasers available to authorised firearms officers.
There have been a number of controversial cases involving use of the stun guns - including blind pensioner Colin Farmer who was hit with the weapon in Chorley, Lancashire, when an officer mistook his white stick for a Samurai sword.
In April last year Andrew Pimlott died after being burned when he doused himself in flammable liquid and was then hit by a police Taser outside his Plymouth home.
Thames Valley Police assistant chief constable Chris Shead defended the force's use of the weapon. "Only qualified Thames Valley Police officers are permitted to carry Taser," he said.
"Taser is only considered for use in cases where it is necessary and proportionate to the behaviour the officer encounters .. These are incidents where officers are faced with someone who is threatening a significant level of violence towards themselves, others or the attending officer. Taser use is a staged process.
"On many occasions the use of the laser sight, or red dot, is enough to encourage people to comply … as demonstrated in 2013. They have only been fired 31 times."
In response to a Freedom of Information request, Thames Valley Police revealed the number of times their officers have deployed Tasers since September 2007:
2007 (September onwards): seven times
2008: 18 times
2009: 43 times
2010: 58 times
2011: 42 times
2012: 61 times
2013 (January-November): 119 times
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