| However, Amnesty International’s Scottish programme director Rosemary Burnett said she believed the medical risks should have been further looked into before the guns were deployed.
Sergeant Leslie told the Tele that, following any deployment, the barbs fired by the guns would generally be left in situ, to be removed only be medical personnel.
“That could be either by paramedics, if they are on the scene, or at the accident and emergency department in Dundee or Perth,” he said.
“In any case, if somebody is subjected to the Taser, they will be given a medical examination. Stakeholders have been invited to demonstrations, and no issues have been raised.”
On the issue of pre-existing medical conditions, the sergeant said that would be looked into as part of their “intelligence gathering” during any incident.
“If somebody did have a known medical condition, we would have to bear that in mind,” he added.
Police stressed that Tasers will not be issued to officers as mandatory equipment. They will be deployed only when required, with strict adherence to national guidelines.
The officer will have to have “reasonable grounds to believe the person is committing or about to commit an action which is likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to the officer or any other person, and there is no other way to prevent the danger.”
There was only one such incident in Tayside last year and Sergeant Leslie added, “Just because we have got Taser, there is no guarantee we are going to use them.”
Meanwhile, Ms Burnett said, “In Scotland, Taser will only be operated by trained firearms officers and kept in a locked firearms box. Under those circumstances we are not so concerned, but what we are concerned about is that they might come to regard it as a regular weapon.
“In the United States and Canada over 200 people there have died as a result of Tasers, and what we are calling for is an independent inquiry into how dangerous they are.
“What we have found in the US is that anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol is much more susceptible to being killed by a Taser.
“Similarly, what if a person has a heart condition? It isn’t possible to know just by looking at someone if they are at a greater risk.”
Ms Burnett added that there if was an inquiry, it could take responsibility for monitoring the use of Tasers and ensuring there is no softening of the guidelines issued to officers.
Taser works by discharging a pair of probes from an electrical device at an intended subject up to 21ft away. The probes, which contain sharp barbs, create a circuit by connecting to clothing or by penetration of the skin.
Fifty thousand volts is then passed through the conducting wire into the subject which causes electro muscular disruption.
Dr Barry Klaassen, A&E consultant at Ninewells, said, “We are aware that Tayside Police have now introduced Taser guns.
“Should the need arise, consultants at A&E will be able to treat any effects of the Taser experienced by individuals.” |
