Shock tactics to stop criminals (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Shock tactics to stop criminals

11:20am Friday 31st August 2007 in Chard By Joanna Glover

CRIMINALS could be in for a shock with the introduction of more police trained to use taser guns.

A 12-month pilot is set to launch tomorrow (Saturday) that will see an additional 30 specially trained police officers armed with Tasers in Avon and Somerset.

The Taser is a hand-held device which discharges an electrical current to temporarily incapacitate a person, causing them to fall to the ground or 'freeze' on the spot.

Its effects are short-lived but designed to give officers the opportunity to take control of the offender and situation.

The force is one of ten across the country taking part in the Home Office trial, which allows non-firearms unit officers to be trained to use the weapons for the first time.

All 30 officers have been selected from the force's Support Groups, which already specialise in dealing with conflict situations and violent or potentially violent offenders.

Supt Adrian Coombs is in charge of the pilot.

He said: "Tasers have proved excellent weapons for officers faced with violent offenders threatening to harm themselves, officers or other members of the public.

"Previously, our only options for dealing with such situations in a non-lethal way were to use CS Spray or a baton, but this requires officers to be within reach of the offender, which is obviously not an option if they are armed.

"The fact that Tasers can be used up to a distance of seven metres away means we can now deal with these situations without having to rely on armed officers only.

"The officers we have selected are already trained to an advanced level in conflict management and, as with any firearms incident, still have to get authorisation from a senior officer to draw their Taser."