Birmingham MP urges caution as Midlands police are given Taser stun guns

Nov 25 2008 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail

used as a replacement for firearms then it may be a welcome development.”

Police across the country are to receive 10,000 Taser guns after pilot schemes in 10 forces were judged a success.

Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming (Yardley) welcomed the announcement, saying: “I would rather be subdued with a taser than a truncheon.”

Amnesty International called for assurances that Tasers would be used only by a small number of specially-trained officers, in the same way as firearms.

Spokesman Oliver Sprague said Amnesty’s research shows that 320 people have died after being Tasered in the US since 2001.

Ms Smith said: “I am proud that we have one of the few police services around the world that do not regularly carry firearms and I want to keep it that way.

“But every day the police put themselves in danger to protect us, the public. They deserve our support, so I want to give the police the tools they tell me they need.

“That is why I am giving the police 10,000 Tasers to ensure that officers benefit from this form of defence.”