Taser trial final report

Report: 10
Date: 2 April 2009
By: T/Assistant Commissioner, Central Operations, on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

The ACPO Taser Specially Trained Unit (STU) trial commenced in the UK on the 1 September 2007. The Metropolitan Police Service, utilising officers from the TSG entered the trial on the 10 December 2007, the data in this report covers the period 10 December 2007 – 31 July 2008. During the trial period Taser was deployed (Drawn, Aimed, Red Dot, Arced, Drive Stun or Fired) at 209 incidents across London and discharged on 40 occasions. Since the conclusion of the ACPO Taser trial the Home Secretary has agreed to allow the deployment of Taser with STUs in the UK police service under the terms of the extended deployment ACPO policy. Data on post trial use is also contained in this report and covers the period 1 August ‘08 – 1 March ‘09 where Taser was deployed at 98 incidents and discharged on 19 occasions. No persons have suffered serious injury through the use of Taser.

A. Recommendation

That

1. members note the update on continued deployment of Taser since September 2008 – February 2009; and
2. support the following recommendations:
   • MPS TSG continue to deploy Taser on Commissioner’s Reserve
   • MPS Strategic Taser Group continue to review Taser usage across the MPS, together with an assessment of any extension of Taser deployment, including TSG Borough Reserves, making appropriate recommendations to Management Board.
   • Joint MPA and MPS Taser oversight group continues to monitor deployment of Taser by the MPS.

B. Supporting information

1. A submission was presented to the Home Office seeking an extension to the operational deployment of Taser outside of the firearms criteria. Having considered the submission, the Home Secretary was supportive of a further trial involving STUs. An STU is defined as one or more officers trained in the use of Taser.

2. ACPO sought the assistance of ten Forces to ensure that there was a cross section of police areas, within the trial for STUs. ACPO in consultation with the Home Office established guidelines for the selection of STUs. All Chief Officers of trial Forces identified which officers within their Force area would be designated STUs.

3. The Commissioner presented a report on the proposed Taser trial to the MPA full Authority in September 2007. The MPA requested further information on the trial and at the Commissioner’s suggestion, members agreed to a seminar/demonstration of Taser before a further paper addressing members’ concerns was brought back to the full Authority. The Police Federation and Amnesty International were also invited to attend.

4. Full details of the proposed trial were provided within a paper submitted to the MPA on the 25 October 2007. The MPA supported the MPS’ participation in the trial.

5. A joint MPS / MPA oversight group was established and reporting protocols agreed. This included a daily and weekly report of all Taser deployments to be circulated to group members. The weekly report details all deployments and provides statistical analysis of those deployments, including diversity issues. This report is electronically circulated to the MPA and MPS senior management every Monday. Additionally, quarterly reports were prepared and reviewed by the oversight group. These reports provided a more comprehensive analysis particularly with regard to discharges.

6. The MPS Territorial Support Group (TSG) was selected to fulfil the role of Specially Trained Unit within the MPS for a number of reasons. They are a highly skilled and trained group of officers with immediate and close supervision. It was from this background that officers went through a demanding selection process prior to completion of a comprehensive training package. The training followed that recommended by ACPO but further enhanced to compliment the demands placed upon the TSG in policing the capital city.

7. During the extended Taser trial the majority of the trial Forces used their police support units, although West Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall, North Wales and Northumbria did use 24/7 patrol officers. Deployment of the TSG with Taser has significantly reduced the demands previously placed upon MPS Firearms units. This has allowed those armed OCUs to concentrate on their primary deployments whilst the TSG have responded to knife crime and other incidents of violence.

Training

8. ACPO and the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) developed the Taser training package. The training programme has been developed from the firearms Taser package and has been subject to review by the ACPO Taser working group. This group had representatives from armed units across the UK and conflict management teams. The training has been reviewed and further enhanced by the TSG (CO20) with the assistance of MPS Public Order OCU and the MPS Officer Safety Unit. ACPO and NPIA have reviewed and support the improvements within the training and have placed MPS good practice in the national training programme.

9. The training programme includes instruction on the Taser and its capabilities, impact factors, ACPO policy, use of force legislation, using the device and post incident protocols. The training is held over two days, each being 12 hours of actual training. This 24-hour Taser training programme builds on the minimum 12 hours officer safety training that is mandatory for all officers and the additional public order training undertaken by the TSG. To ensure that the training is understood and officers comply with use of force legislation officers undertake scenario-based training.

10. The Taser Oversight Group and management within MPS have reviewed the use of Taser by the MPS TSG during the trial. ACPO and the Home Office set a number of criteria to be reviewed post trial these are posted at the foot of this report. The tables below provide numerical data on the use of Taser together with a short commentary on interpretation of each data set.

ACPO STU Taser trial data

Table 1 – total number of incidents

11. Table 1 shows that in the period being analysed Taser was used between once a day and once every two days. It is interesting to note that there are no significant peaks in the data.

12. During the period of the Taser trial TSG officers have arrested 7049 persons and stopped and searched 29,365 persons during the course of their duties. The TSG workload increased during 2008 and the deployment at Taser has been supervised very carefully. The total number of Taser deployments during the trial period needs to be seen in context against the number of stops, arrests, searches and violent person calls the TSG have dealt with. The increase in the TSG workload was caused by extensive deployments supporting Borough officers against knife crime and gang violence.

13. During the trial TSG officers have been confronted with an array of weapons including broken bottles, knifes and swords and a BB gun that was discharged at both the public and police.

Table 1: showing the number of times a Taser was used.

Taser usage by borough

14. Table 2 identifies Boroughs where Taser has been deployed. From the data, it would appear that the top four boroughs for deployment of Taser are Lambeth, Haringey, Islington and Hackney. These Boroughs saw the TSG deployed to numerous incidents including central taskings to combat both knife and gang crime. Borough postings are determined through the Central Operations Coordinating and Tasking Office (CO CaTO) tasking process. Taskings are as a result of intelligence led requests from Boroughs.

15. The deployment of Taser by the TSG is always conducted in pairs and therefore where multiple deployments of officers are seen this does have an impact on the totals seen. An example of this is seen when five (5) of the deployments of Taser on Ealing Borough were as a result of the TSG deploying at the Three Bridges Regional secure unit to detain a male subject who had threatened staff and was a high-risk patient.

16. The male subject was a high-risk patient who was a threat to staff and other patients. In order to search the building thoroughly 6 officers deployed Taser in the drawn position and eventually found the male subject hidden on the roof of the building. He was armed with adapted weapons made from window fittings. After negotiation he was returned to the care of hospital staff.

Table 2: Taser deployments by borough

17. The TSG have been utilised since their inception as a Pan London unit to assist BOCUs, this is due to their ability to work in a team and as shield trained officers to enter premises safely and conduct searches or call outs from an address to detain and arrest subjects. This workload has grown significantly in recent years and is a role undertaken across numerous Boroughs when the TSG are dealing with drug, gang and knife issues.

18. Another significant role undertaken by the TSG as part of their shield training is the abstraction of subjects from police cells who are a threat to themselves or others. The cell relocation tactic has been deployed many times and has been developed since its inception by public order and TSG staff. With the additional tactical option of a Taser deployment officers have been able to remove subjects safely and allow for the safe transition of the subject through the custody process or have enabled a subject to be removed to a cell when other cells have had to be closed due to damage or danger caused by the subject.

19. An example of this being successfully deployed was seen at Bromley Magistrates Court where a male subject was refusing to leave his cell after he had been given 3 months custodial sentence. The male had arrived at court from Brixton prison and his sentence was to be carried out at HMP Highdown. Upon being sentenced and told of his intended location the male refused to leave his cell. He stated that he had a razor blade hidden in his cell or about his person and would use it if anyone tried to enter the cell. The male has previous history for hiding weapons in his cell and also using a razor blade on himself. The male had also used a razor blade to harm himself on the way from Brixton prison where he had been on remand for Wounding with Intent. He was in excess of 20 stones. Three shields were lined up in front of the closed cell door in a semi circle. Two Taser officers were deployed behind these shields. The primary Taser officer made verbal contact with the male and asked him to move away from the door towards the back of the cell, which he initially ignored. The command was repeated and the male moved to the rear of the cell. The cell door was opened and both Tasers were drawn and pointed at the male in the torso area. Both Tasers pointed the red dots at his torso. The male looked down at his chest as the cell door opened and immediately said that he would be compliant.

Table 3: Type of deployment

20. In over 89% of cases where Taser has been deployed the incident has been effectively resolved without the weapon being discharged. Nearly 50% of Taser deployments are the use of the red dot. This is when the Taser is aimed at the subject and the target sight is shown on the clothing of the person. Due to the verbal instructions provided by the officer, public knowledge and in some cases personal experience, using the red dot on a subject has proven, in this trial, enough to control a subject. The second most common deployment is drawing of the Taser only. The usage of Taser in this way shows that Taser is effective in diffusing potentially violent situations without having to physically restrain the subject in any way.

21. After a Taser discharge ACPO guidelines state that an FME or other medical unit must examine all persons who are subject of this type of deployment. No serious injuries have been caused by the discharge of Taser or drive stun Taser tactics. Minor barb marks have been recorded against a small number of persons and during the trial the most serious injuries occurred where subjects had self-harmed by cutting their arms and or necks. There were no instances where Taser caused injuries beyond barb marks to a person and this was also the case across the nine other forces involved in the ACPO trial.

Table 4: Table showing the age range of all Taser Subjects

 22. In the 209 incidents, analysis has identified 213 subjects who have been subject of a Taser deployment. Of these 95% (203) were male and 5% (10) were female. During the trial only one Taser was discharged against a female subject. The circumstances are that a female suffering from serious mental health issues armed with a large kitchen knife was not responding to local officers’ requests. TSG called out to facilitate safe removal to prevent any harm to her or others. The female was armed with a large knife; she was not responsive to verbal communication. The use of Taser enabled the officers to detain the female without further incident.

23. In response to questions regarding the age of subjects under 21 who have been subject to a Taser deployment the following table examines this issue in detail and examines each deployment.

Table 5: Taser deployments on persons aged 15-21

Table 6: showing the age range of Subjects who had a Taser discharged against them

24. Table 6 shows the age range of subject ages that had a Taser against them. 80% of the persons who were subject of a Taser discharge are over 21.

25. The circumstances of the 15 year old male who was subject to a Taser discharge was that local Borough officers were calling for urgent assistance as a large scale violent disorder had broken out in Mountfield Park, SE6. Weapons, including knives, bottles, baseball bats and sticks were being used. Several people had already been stabbed. Officers attended the scene where large groups of youths were fighting with weapons. The subject was struggling with officers, throwing punches at them and resisting their efforts to detain him. The subject was holding a narrow shaped dark shaped object in his right-hand and in view of the stabbings that had just taken place the Taser officer was fearful that the subject was in possession of a knife or other bladed object and was about to seriously injure another officer. The officer took the decision to discharge the Taser against the subject to prevent the subject from causing any further harm towards colleagues, himself or other bystanders.

26. Table 7 explores the diversity issues surrounding the ACPO Taser trial and contains all deployments; discharge, red dot draw etc. Examination of the lead four BOCUs where the TSG have been deployed on more occasions than other London Boroughs during the Taser trial indicates that Hackney, Islington, Haringey and Lambeth have had more Taser deployments than other BOCUs. Borough postings as previously stated are determined through the Central Operations Coordinating and Tasking Office (CO CaTO) tasking process.

27. Taskings are as a result of intelligence led requests from Boroughs. The intelligence dictates the profile of the subjects that the TSG officers focus on. Disproportionality in any use of force tactical option including Taser will be affected by both the makeup of the relevant population in the areas, the transient population and the nature of criminality that the tasking units have identified to be dealt with. When compared to stop and search data held by each BOCU the percentage of subjects from individual ethnic groups indicate similar patterns in each of the 4 highlighted BOCUs. Overall stop and search data held by Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Lambeth show that 47% of all subjects stopped were black and 44% were white.

Table 7: showing the ethnicity of all TSG Taser Subjects

28. Table 8 is used as a comparison of Taser data between the TSG and AFO Taser deployment within the MPS. The AFO data tables examine this area closer by comparing AFO data throughout their deployments during 2008. Whilst AFOs have the ability to deploy Taser at events of violence using the same policy as the TSG the tables examines their use at armed operations. In 2008 AFOs deployed Taser on 123 occasions against 119 subjects. 115 of these subjects were male and 4 subjects were female.

29. The deployments shown within Table 9 are a contrast to those deployments by the TSG in that the vast majority are discharges and drive stun. This is a pattern that is mirrored across all UK police firearms teams. During the ACPO trial CO19 officers have deployed Taser at 8 incidents that were not armed operations. Of these deployments 5 were discharges, 1 was a drive stun and two were red dots.

Table 8: showing the ethnicity of all AFO Taser subjects during Jan–Dec 2008

Table 9: showing AFO Taser Deployments Jan–Dec 2008

30. Table 10 contains data on the ethnicity of subjects who have had a Taser discharged against them. This data is based on the primary deployment and in some cases contains subjects who have had more than one Taser discharge deployed against them at the same incident. During the trial and post trial use within the MPS and the UK police service the discharge of Taser more than once on the same subject has not caused any medical problems at the time or after the event.

Table 10: showing the ethnicity of subjects who had a TSG Taser discharged against them

31. In relation to Special Population Group analysis, 19.7% (42) of 213 people who were subject to a Taser deployment upon them were recorded as suffering from mental illness, drink, or drug problems. This included persons who were removed from private and other premises under the mental health act by TSG who were assisting mental health medical teams. The TSG through their deployment of Taser have assisted in the preservation of life where persons have self harmed and only the intervention of the TSG has enabled the person to be removed safely to medical care.

32. The detention and restraint of violent individuals is a high-risk process. Any violent interaction at close quarters offers a greater potential for physical injury to either party. Furthermore, conditions that have come to be known as ‘positional asphyxia’ and ‘Acute Behavioural Disorder (ABD) (formally known as ‘excited delirium’), are dangers that officers have to be aware of from the start of any violent incident.

33. ABD is an extremely complex issue, which continues to be the subject of debate among leading medical professionals. ABD can occur when a person exhibits violent behaviour in a bizarre and manic way, rather than just being violent. ABD has been associated with psychiatric illness and substance misuse. The symptoms of ABD include bizarre and/or aggressive behaviour, panic, unexpected physical strength, heat intolerance and a diminished sense of pain.

34. Many of the signs indicating ABD are also common to people who are simply being violent. The use of Taser as an additional tactical option has enabled the TSG to deal effectively and more importantly safely with violent persons and in all cases where Taser has been discharged it has prevented serious injury to both the subject and the officer.

35. In some cases multi discharges have been undertaken to ensure a safe conclusion to incidents. It can be seen from multi discharge events that in each of the cases the person hit was a risk to themselves and others. The main reason for a multiple deployment of Taser was that the subject was able to remove the barbs prior to the circuit being complete.

Trial conclusion

36. It was accepted that there would be a number of unique issues and challenges arising from Taser being deployed by STUs. The ACPO Extended Trial of Taser meant that for the first time the weapon would be used by officers outside of the firearms arena but within the confines of specified criteria for use. A great deal of time and effort was dedicated at the outset to ensure that the safest, most appropriate and controlled approach was adopted. This included such areas as; policy and guidance, training, supervision, community involvement and liaison with partnership agencies.

37. It is worth noting that significant ‘stops and checks’ were put in place to control and record use of the device. This starts, as mentioned above, with the careful selection and thorough initial training of officers in use of the device. This then leads to the practical day-to-day deployment. A structured process was created for the issue of the weapon, checking that it functions correctly, and following any use downloading the memory within it. This is all captured within an auditable trail so as to maintain the highest integrity. Additionally all uses are reviewed by TSG and Central Operations. Operators are subject of ongoing refresher training.

38. Before addressing the broader picture it is worth highlighting a number of facts and figures recorded in the tables above. A summary of the main points is provided below;

•  Deployed at 209 incidents
•  354 uses by officers (Used by more than one officer at the same incident)
•  Subjects Tasered – 95% male
•  Main methods of use (expressed as a percentage)
  •  Drawn 32%
  •  Red Dot 47%
  •  Fired 11%

39. Turning now to the criteria for assessing the trial. Listed below is each area that was to be assessed with comment as to whether or not we met the criteria, together with any relevant qualification.

Provide a more Human Rights based response in violent situations

40. In their training officers are educated in the use of the Conflict Management Model that incorporates the use of legitimate actions within the “powers & policy” section and focuses particularly on the legislative provisions available to them. Taser and other use of force tactical options do not form a sliding scale of use of force. The tactical deployment of a use of force option must under law rest with the officer to fully justify. The operational guidelines for Taser follow current legislation and as with any use of force has to be recorded and justified. Officers using Taser are subject of a comprehensive training package supplementing their personal safety training in the Conflict Management Model that they have previously and continue to receive. Safe use of the device has been further enhanced by supervision both in the decision process for authorising deployment of the device and often present during actual use. These processes are supported by an audit trail created through thorough post incident protocols including recording system within the device itself.

Reduces the level of injuries sustained to a subject in these incidents

41. During the discharge deployments of Taser a minority (14) of the 30 subjects received slight injury where the Taser barbs penetrated the skin. A number of subjects who had self-inflicted injuries were stopped from inflicting more serious and potentially life threatening injuries. As with officer injuries the use of multi officer tactics can result in impact injuries to suspects and the deployment of Taser have reduced those types of injury to nil. In 325 deployments the subject did not suffer any injury.

Reduces the level of injuries sustained to officers in these incidents

42. Review of injury data during the trial has revealed that no officer deploying Taser at an incident has been injured. The nature of calls taken by the TSG together with their normal police work means that TSG officers are often vulnerable to acts of violence. This has been particularly the case in multi officer deployments when assisting medical and mental health teams as well as custody staff. The use of Taser by the TSG officers has reduced their injuries in dealing with such incidents to zero.

Reduces the level and nature of complaints against police officers arising from these incidents

43. During the trial no complaints against Taser STUs were received. This can be viewed by comparison with the total complaints made against the TSG, for the period August ‘07 to July ‘08 of 260 complaints received. Anecdotally, STUs has received positive comments on occasions following use of the device. The Directorate of Professional Standards and the IPCC were given a full briefing on Taser prior to the commencement of the trial. The IPCC have released a report to complement the trial review.

Improve the accountability for the use of force through effective monitoring/subsequent evaluation of incidents when a Taser deployed

44. The use of Taser as with any use of force tactical option has to be justifiable. The booking out of Taser is covered by an audit trail, which shows that the officer is fully trained and a current Taser operator. Its deployment is recorded on Form 6624, which is checked by a CO20 supervisor, a CO20 line manager and CO11 on behalf of Commander Central Operations. The discharge of Taser is further monitored by the agreed ACPO post incident procedure. The Home Office and ACPO then review this data. The post incident review will also contain a debrief of the officer(s) involved and any lessons can be implemented into training or policy guidance. No other use of force, other than the use of firearms, is ordinarily subject to such a high level of review.

Provides comprehensive records of the use of force relating to Taser (including figures for aiming the weapon, arcing and actual firing)

45. The data for the Taser trial has been processed by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) and published in quarterly reports posted to the Home Office website. During the 9-month trial within the MPS all deployments were also monitored internally. This continues to be the case. These figures also show that deployment in the MPS by AFOs at non-firearms incidents is very low in comparison with other UK forces. This reflects the ability of TSG STUs to deal with incidents ensuring that firearms officers are available to meet their unique commitments.

Improves public confidence in the police service when dealing with violent situations

46. Since the introduction of Taser into the police service much debate has been seen within the media about the use of less lethal technology. The one issue that all groups agree on is that a less lethal option is a benefit to the police service, the debate centres on who should possess Taser within the police service. This trial has seen that the use of Taser by STUs has ensured a safer resolution of violent incidents. The media coverage at the start of the STU trial posed many questions based on the North American experience of Taser. The TSG and the MPS have attended numerous IAG meetings and community meetings and had open discussions with the media and other interested groups in order that the role of the TSG and Taser are clearly understood.

47. The careful and thorough training of officers in the use of Taser has clearly played an important part in the successful introduction of this useful additional tactical option. The MPS is keen to maintain this commitment so as to ensure that the device is used in the safest and most appropriate manner.

48. The MPS is looking to build on the success of the Taser trial by the TSG STUs. There have been a number of factors that have played an important part in that success. These primarily revolve around utilisation of carefully crafted guidelines and policy, supported by appropriate training and close supervision. In turn these have linked with a comprehensive reporting and review mechanism.

Post-Trial Taser use

49. Since the ACPO trial concluded the TSG have continued to have the ability to deploy Taser when they are engaged on Commissioners Reserve and pre planned operations such as the execution of warrants. On 1 December 2008, the Home Secretary announced that all Chief Officers could extend the deployment of Tasers to all STUs in accordance with the ACPO guidelines and this included the need for correct reporting procedures to be followed. Forces surrounding the MPS have now commenced the training and deployment of Taser to STUs.

50. The MPS is aware of the importance of the reporting system, which ensures that the use of Taser remains transparent to all and information is readily available and accurate. In order to ensure the reporting process did not become bureaucratic the Taser reporting form has been redesigned by ACPO with the assistance of a number of forces. The new form is now a shortened version of the old form 6624. Unlike other forces the MPS has maintained that all deployments of Taser must be detailed in full.

51. The following data from August – February provides further insight into deployments by the TSG post trial. The individual deployments of Taser remains constant and no major changes in deployment patterns are identifiable.

52. The deployment of Taser at non-armed operations by AFOs remains low and since the trial began in December 07 CO19 have now deployed Taser at 19 incidents and discharged them on 5 occasions. An example of armed officer intervention with Taser was seen at Heathrow where armed officers have deployed Taser against a female who was in the process of cutting her wrists.

53. Table 11 examines data from the trial and compares deployments from the end of July 08 to 1 March 2009. 146 deployments of Taser have been undertaken since the end of the trial and the percentage of discharges to deployments remain similar. The ethnicity of subjects seen in table 12 has seen an increase in subjects classified as White British subjects Tasered whilst all other data remains constant.

Table 11: deployments from the end of July 08 to 1 March 09

Table 12: Taser deployed- subject ethnicity

Recommendations

54. MPS Strategic Taser Review Group tasked with assessing and identifying the most appropriate way forward for the continued use of the device by STUs on the TSG and the potential for use by other suitably trained officers across the MPS. This will ensure appropriate coverage to meet the demands placed upon the MPS.

55. CO11 and CO20 to retain the current data recording systems and to provide the MPA with quarterly updates on usage.

C. Legal implications

1. The use of Taser is an exercise of force and on each occasion that force is used an officer must be able to show that they have used no more force than was necessary.

2. The Taser trial has been highly effective and has reduced injuries to both suspects and officers by allowing a safer resolution of violent incidents. Consequently complaints are reduced. The immediate oversight by supervisors and then the monitoring systems that are in place have ensured that the use of Taser has been appropriate and proportionate.

D. Race and equality impact

1. During the period of trial the TSG have actively engaged with a wide range of London’s many and diverse communities as part of a consultation and information sharing process. Over 60 presentations were given to community groups ranging from Members of Parliament, local councils, youth projects, Community Consultative groups, Independent Advisory Groups and local Neighbourhood teams.

2. Officers made presentations to high-level community groups, providing information at the public meetings. By engaging with the communities they were positioned to provide accurate information and advice. This engagement had the added benefit of acting as an opportunity for enhanced public contact which saw some groups openly congratulate the TSG for making the effort to inform and advise. Some requested the TSG provide regular updates on their work in the future.

3. The Metropolitan Police extended an invitation to interested parties to see Taser training and to view for themselves what officers had to achieve prior to using Taser in an operational capacity. Amnesty International agreed to attend an initial course. Oliver Sprague the Director said;

“We are extremely grateful to the Metropolitan Police for allowing us the opportunity to observe the current training package offered to specialist units operating within the Metropolitan police area. In general, the training course we observed was extremely professional, demanding and provides a solid foundation with which to build further safeguards we believe necessary to ensure the continued responsible use of Taser within UK police forces.".

E. Financial implications

1. The ACPO Taser trial within the MPS was funded through existing budgets with the current MPS Taser contract being used to supply the weapon, cartridges and ancillary items. It should be noted that the costs on this contract have been frozen for three years and a new contract will need to be negotiated with the sole supplier Taser UK in 2009. This will result in an increase in some prices. The initial Taser, Dataport, cartridges and holster are supplied to the MPS as a complete package and will now cost £960. The TSG ordered sufficient Tasers for all five of their bases to ensure that operational needs were met, this equated to 23 Tasers per base.

2. Initial TSG start up costs of equipment and instructor training;

£47,320

3. The initial Taser course costs include cartridges; each officer uses 12 cartridges and a number of other training materials, targets, safety equipment etc.

4. Refresher training of 400 officers using 8 cartridges each to reclassify;

£52,800

5. After the ACPO Taser trial the Home Office and NPIA sought bids from all forces to ensure that STUs could be deployed in all forces and were not restricted by additional funding needs. All forces were requested to bid for a number of weapons. The MPS when reviewing its position after the trial identified that an additional 150 weapons would be required to meet the training and reclassification needs of the TSG and operational growth for TSG deployments. It is not envisaged that the MPS will deploy Taser with TP officers at this time.

F. Background papers

None

G. Contact details

Report author: Robert Broadhurst, Commander Central Operations, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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