UK, Aussie, international cops. Do you have Tasers?

[USAcop]

I was curious what countries use tasers?

UK?
Canada?
Australia?
and any other countries

[Sgt Lobster]

Tasers have been approved for use in all forces in England & Wales (not sure about Scotland or Northern Ireland). Our force is getting them this month, but they will only be issued to the Armed Response Vehicle crews at least initially.


Lobster.

[KL]

The RCMP has been using them for several years and is in the process of expanding the program. Many municipal forces in Canada are using them as well.

[co911]

There is no general issue of tasers at any Australian police dept. Only specialist teams have access to them.

[ron9572]

IN Western Australia the only people who have them are Tactical Response Group, (SWAT), Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Unit and Regional Operations Group, the last isnt really a specialised unit but is an independent metro wide patrol group

[Sgt Lobster]

This link should take you to the press release about my force getting the taser.

http://www.lancashire.police.uk/news.html

Lobster.

[Cockney Corner.]

I believe, if I read the trade press correctly, the current ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers ie. the collective genius of the English and Welsh chiefs) position is that a) we wouldn't object in theory to all operational officers being equipped with Taser but b) the costs and training involved means that this is a non-starter. I imagine there is also c) well, it's got a trigger and it looks a bit like a firearm; looks a bit iffy to us.

[TheMP5guy]

Our tactical unit are the only ones who use them.

[Sgt Lobster]

Cockney Corner,

I would imagine that Tasers will find their way onto Support Unit/TSG vans pretty soon as they seem ideal for dealing with the domestics gone wrong e.g. nugget holed up in a flat with a knife or other edged weapon and similar incidents.

I can think of at least one recent incident that ended up with an out of town support unit, 6 armed officers, a dog unit, police negotiator, numerous unarmed section officers, the fire service and the ambulance service to deal with one plank that had a edged weapon. 50,000 volts from a Taser would have sorted the matter within minutes instead of hours, and would have stopped him setting fire to his flat putting lives in danger.


Lobster.

[Cockney Corner.]

Lobster

Yup, we had a very similar incident Saturday night - woman in a small room with a razor blade. Roll on taser. Nevertheless, I just don't see it being general issue any time soon.

[Sgt Lobster]

Cockney Corner,

What is with women and razor blades?

I have no doubt that Tasers would be of more use to patrol officers than ARV crews most of the time.

Lobster.

[Stan Switek]

Tasers have been approved for use in all forces in England & Wales (not sure about Scotland or Northern Ireland). Our force is getting them this month, but they will only be issued to the Armed Response Vehicle crews at least initially.
Lobster.

What is the percentage of armed vs unarmed now? Are they arming more officers in the UK now?

[JohnKelly]

Cockney Corner,

What is it with women and razor blades?

Lobster.

:eek: Any of you blokes who have served in the Steaming Jungles, ever heard of the stories of where women insert razor blades just so as they can slice up good old Captain Winkey. :eek:

[Sgt Lobster]

What is the percentage of armed vs unarmed now? Are they arming more officers in the UK now?

There does not appear to be any change in the numbers of armed officers in my force but I cannot comment on the situation elsewhere in the UK.

Lobster.

[Sgt Lobster]

John Kelly,

I think you've got the general idea with the razor blades ;)

Lobster.

[CopFromGermany]

In Germany (Berlin) special forces uses the taser, too. But three weeks ago, when a special force want to use the taser for a suicide person, there was a technical problem by using the taser. The person died, because the taser doesn't work.

They make an investigation now, for that time the taser is not use.

cu

[Bunglecop]

I believe all front line police should have them, not just the specialist SERT units we have, as incidents could be solved quickly rather than waiting for them to arrive on the scene.

[FinnGuard]

Finnish police has taser in test use now.
I think they are planning to give them out to all police officers.

[AnGardaSiochana]

Still illegal in Ireland full stop but they are planned for the ERU (SWAT). Personally I would rather have a standard stun gun than a Tazer.

[DaveNT]

My Dept issued them to Tac/Response unit, but appears they will go on general issue in the near future.

[NSWCop]

In New South Wales only State Protection Group specialist Police are issued Tasers. They are not general issue.