TaserLawyer

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

BBC London News - 15 October 2013

Interviewed on BBC London
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24526109

Comment in Independent Voices - 15 October 2013

A less lethal weapon? As Taser use is rolled out across London, the public has much to fear

If we look abroad, the link between taser use and fatal injury has already been found

Should the police have more Tasers in London? It’s an important question to ask, especially of those who may be subjected to their use. The arguments for more Tasers would be that Tasers are a less lethal option compared to a firearm. The arguments against their increased availability is that they would be seen to arm the police by stealth and have the potential to cause seriously injury.

So why were Londoners not consulted before the Commissioner embarked on his ‘Taser Roll-Out Programme’? That was one of the questions put to both the Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor of London as they gave evidence to the Police and Crime Committee’s Taser Working Group in June. Today, the Committee publishes their fundings, ‘Arming the Met, the deployment of less lethal weapons in London’. The report criticises not only the ambiguity over the decision-making process but the lack of data transparency and information given to the public.
But will these criticisms be enough to halt ‘Total Tasering’? It’s no secret that the Commissioner will continue with his ‘Total Policing’ agenda, especially as there does not seem to be any resistance from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, the policing body elected to hold the Commissioner to account. If the Mayor continues to sell the pass ‘Total Tasering’ will become a reality and will lead to policing the Capital by force.
The consequence of that will be that more people will be Tasered. There is already a growing number of individuals who have suffered injuries as a result of the Taser not just in London, but across the country. Last October, Colin Farmer, a blind man from Chorley was Tasered in the back as he made his way down a side street. And James McCarthy, a man from Liverpool, was Tasered in September 2012 and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest, has last month issued a claim for damages for breach of his human rights under Article 2 and 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. These are just a few examples of the innocent people being caught in the cross fire of this gun.
To date there has been no direct link to a Taser-related death in Britain. However, in 2006, Brian Loan, a 47-year-old man from Sacriston, County Durham died three days after being Tasered in the back. The Coroner’s verdict at the time did not find a connection but, the Coroner did add that “It may be in five or ten years time somebody may find a link”.
If we look to America, Canada and Australia, the link has already been found. The militarisation of their police forces is likely to be one of the contributory factors which has led to the ready use of Tasers. It could also be due to the misconception that the Taser is non-lethal. The Commissioner also seems to hold a similar misconception about Tasers, as he considers them to be a ‘tool’ rather than a ‘weapon’. The Taser is a firearm: its use is controlled under section 5 of Firearms Act 1968 and should only be used when there is a life threatening incident. If the Taser is used outside such circumstances then its use could be deemed excessive and disproportionate – and challengeable by law.
If the Commissioner is thinking of extending Taser availability for his officers in the future then I would encourage him to consult the public he has been appointed to police before taking any further step.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/a-less-lethal-weapon-as-taser-use-is-rolled-out-across-london-the-public-has-much-to-fear-8881351.html#commentReference

Monday, 7 October 2013

Interviewed on the JVS Show - 7 October 2013

BBC Three Counties Radio - The JVS Show, Your views on more tasers in Milton Keynes, should God be removed from the oath people take in court plus the consumer hour. http://bbc.in/17aZC1I

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/newsevents-pressreleases/newsevents-pressreleases-item.htm?id=264511

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

Quoted in The Guardian - 27 September 2013

Taser victim sues police despite IPCC saying use was justified

James McCarthy suffered heart attack after being hit with stun gun by officers during Liverpool hotel brawl last year

Press Association
theguardian.com, Friday 27 September 2013 14.12 BST

The IPCC said use of the Taser was justified during the ruckus at the Premier Inn in Liverpool last year. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

A 23-year-old who suffered a heart attack when he was Tasered by police has disputed a report that found the use of the stun gun was justified.
James McCarthy is suing Merseyside police after he was hit twice with a Taser at a hotel in Liverpool in September last year.
His solicitor, Sophie Khan, said: "James McCarthy does not accept the findings of the IPCC investigation. He disputes that the Taser use was justified. My client suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the Taser and sustained a serious injury following the incident.
"Mr McCarthy is now pursuing a civil claim against Merseyside police for damages. Mr McCarthy has asked for his privacy to be respected whilst he recovers from his injury."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said use of the stun gun was justified, but added that one of the officers involved should have more training.
The team was called to a Premier Inn in Albert Dock at around 2.50am on 30 September last year, where a group of men were fighting. McCarthy was hit twice, including by one discharge that lasted 11 seconds, and suffered a cardiac arrest.
Because of the potential threat of violence, the IPCC found that using the stun gun was "proportionate and appropriate", but that one officer was not aware of how long he was passing electric current through the Taser and there was a delay in checking whether McCarthy was OK.
According to the IPCC, medical staff said the cardiac arrest could have been caused by the Taser, but that the presence of cocaine and cannabis in his system and raised adrenaline levels could have contributed.
IPCC commissioner James Dipple-Johnstone said: "It is a difficult judgment to make in the heat of an incident, but it is important for public confidence that police officers are able to account for their decision to use force, including Taser, and that any force used against the public is at the minimum level required.
"In this case, officers responded to a violent situation involving a number of people. Our investigation found they had valid concerns for both their safety and that of the public and, as such, use of force including Taser was reasonable.
"However, our investigation did identify areas for improvement in how long the Taser was used for and how long it took for welfare checks to be made by officers when the subject of the Taser use was restrained and suffering a medical emergency.
"We have shared these with the police so that they can be considered in future training of officers."

http://gu.com/p/3j5aa/tw