'We only want to see the police and the MOD purchasing Tasers if there’s a clearly demonstrated security and policing need.' 'We’re already worried by the way our police authorities seem to think that more and more weaponry is the solution to every policing problem. ‘It’s going to be a lot of wasted money if the Home Secretary comes back after the review and says “we only need one Taser for X number of officers”.’

‘Given the Home Secretary’s speech in October, the likelihood is there’s going to be a decrease in the coming years because she’s very concerned about them. ‘The MoD police are facing financial issues and the money obviously could have been spent in other areas - training, equipment or safety. 'Is this just another example of chaotic defence procurement that has seen millions of pounds wasted under this Government? British taxpayers will want to know the answer.'Ĭampaigning lawyer Sophie Khan, who brought a landmark High Court case in 2013 accusing the Metropolitan Police’s Taser roll-out of being unlawful, said: ‘There is a concern about why they have bought so many, where obviously there’s not a need for them. 'Over 90 per cent of the Defence Police carry firearms as part of their duties, enabling officers to protect themselves as well as the assets and personnel they are guarding. Stun: The Tasers' manufacturers insist they have saved lives where they are used instead of bullets 'Why does the MoD Police need increased Taser capability, given how little it is used and the fact that officers already armed? Mr Coaker told MailOnline: 'It seems strange that despite Tasers being used just a handful of times since 2007, the Ministry of Defence has ordered 217 in the last 18 months. Responding to today's figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, the MoD insisted Tasers were needed as a non-lethal alternative to guns.īut the costs were slammed by campaigners and Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary Vernon Coaker. Officers also guard the MoD offices in Whitehall, the 35-acre Royal Mint headquarters in Llantrisant, south Wales, the Aldermaston Nuclear Weapons Research facility in Berkshire and nuclear submarine bases on the River Clyde. The Ministry of Defence police force has around 2,600 officers, the vast majority of whom are armed, guarding more than 50 strategic sites across the UK including army, navy and RAF bases. The Independent Police Complaints Commission immediately launched an investigation into the 2013 incident and has since handed a file to prosecutors. states where they are used instead of guns, the weapons have been at the centre of several scandals.Ī British father died of severe burns after police Tasered him - despite the fact he had doused himself in petrol.Īndrew Pimlott, 32, was set on fire by the 50,000-volt charge outside his Plymouth home where he had threatened to take his own life. Protect Truth’, claims they have ‘transformed law enforcement and become a vital tool’.īut despite bringing down injury rates in U.S. police forces and the firm, whose motto is ‘Protect Life. On patrol: Armed Ministry of Defence police on guard in Whitehall, central London (file photo) people who are confused, distressed and disorientated. Mrs May told a summit in October: 'Imagine what it is like for the thousands of people with mental health problems, learning disabilities or other vulnerabilities who regularly encounter the police. Those figures could now fall even further after Home Secretary Theresa May called for the use of Tasers to be reviewed amid claims they are used too much on vulnerable people.Ī report found 30 per cent of people Tasered in London in 2011 had mental health issues - and half were from ethnic minorities.

Not a single Taser was drawn from its holster in 2013. Seven Tasers were aimed using a ‘red dot’ laser sight, and the remaining five were drawn but not aimed.

Yet they have been drawn from their holsters no more than 13 times.Ī Taser was discharged on a suspect just once, during an incident in 2011 which was not within the force's normal remit. Some 217 of those, almost two thirds of the entire stock, were bought since April 2013 after police inspectors said they should become commonplace. Weapon: The force has almost 400 of these X26 Tasers, which it says are a safer alternative to guns

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