Police use of tasers
3 December 2010
This is a one-off evidence session which provides the Committee with an opportunity to examine the use of tasers by UK police forces. The session will concentrate on use of Tasers by trained officers, the procurement of Tasers by UK police forces and the methodology of testing tasers in order to declare them approved for use by UK police forces.
Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee, said:
"The recent case of Raoul Moat has brought to light the concerns surrounding the use of tasers by the police – including their procurement and the training received by officers using the weapons. Whilst tasers are less lethal than firearms, they can still prove extremely dangerous and as such, their use must be regularly scrutinised."
"We look forward to questioning Pro-Tech, police representatives and the Home Office to establish a wider picture of when and why tasers are used, how we ensure they are used safely and how we ensure that the weapons themselves are fit for purpose."
Witnesses
At 11.00 am
- Kevin Coles, Managing Director, Pro-Tect Systems Ltd
At approx 11.30 am
- Assistant Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, ACPO lead Assistant Chief Constable Andy Adams, Kent Police
At approx 12.00 noon
- Christian Papaleontiou and Graham Widdecombe (Policing Directorate, Home Office)
- Graham Smith (Home Office Scientific Development Branch)