Dear All
The Lib Dems have said that the decision to arm police officers in Scotland with Taser stun guns should be taken by ministers.
At present the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the use of weapons, which fire a 50,000-volt electrical charge, was an operational matter for the police.
Although this maybe procedurally correct, this is a wrong decision.
The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), an agency charged with overseeing the application of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, arrived at the conclusion on November 23, 2007, that the use of the electric pulse Taser gun constitutes a "form of torture" and "can even provoke death."
It simply beggars belief that the Scottish Government can sit back and think this is none of their business.
If someone is shot in the chest by a taser it could lead to cardiac arrest and interfere with the rhythm of the heart.
At present Strathclyde Police are running a pilot scheme on the weapons in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas because of the high number of assaults.
The officers using these weapons are been given only three days training, this is not enough and nowhere near the standard of trained firearm officers.
Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said;
"The first minister has also given assurances that police officers who are armed with Taser guns will be given the same amount of training as firearm officers - three days is clearly nowhere near the amount of training firearms officers receive."
In the debate in the Scottish Parliament, Kenny MacAskill said;
"To suggest that the government should be giving direction to a police force is something I would have opposed in opposition and would certainly not seek to bring in government."
So, if the Police decided that they wanted to use mercury filled dum dum bullets would that be okay?
Surely the logic of Kenny MacAskill’s position is flawed?
He added;
“The Lord Advocate is the "only person" who can direct police in criminal matters”.
I thought Kenny MacAskill said this was an operational matter?
You would think that issuing weapons that could cause death and with inadequate training would be a matter for Scottish Government Ministers.
The Government of Scotland is responsible for the safety and well being of communities.
This is a step backwards and at some time in the future, we will see in Scotland, the first death caused by a taser.
This is the business of the Scottish Government.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
The Lib Dems have said that the decision to arm police officers in Scotland with Taser stun guns should be taken by ministers.
At present the Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the use of weapons, which fire a 50,000-volt electrical charge, was an operational matter for the police.
Although this maybe procedurally correct, this is a wrong decision.
The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT), an agency charged with overseeing the application of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, arrived at the conclusion on November 23, 2007, that the use of the electric pulse Taser gun constitutes a "form of torture" and "can even provoke death."
It simply beggars belief that the Scottish Government can sit back and think this is none of their business.
If someone is shot in the chest by a taser it could lead to cardiac arrest and interfere with the rhythm of the heart.
At present Strathclyde Police are running a pilot scheme on the weapons in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas because of the high number of assaults.
The officers using these weapons are been given only three days training, this is not enough and nowhere near the standard of trained firearm officers.
Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said;
"The first minister has also given assurances that police officers who are armed with Taser guns will be given the same amount of training as firearm officers - three days is clearly nowhere near the amount of training firearms officers receive."
In the debate in the Scottish Parliament, Kenny MacAskill said;
"To suggest that the government should be giving direction to a police force is something I would have opposed in opposition and would certainly not seek to bring in government."
So, if the Police decided that they wanted to use mercury filled dum dum bullets would that be okay?
Surely the logic of Kenny MacAskill’s position is flawed?
He added;
“The Lord Advocate is the "only person" who can direct police in criminal matters”.
I thought Kenny MacAskill said this was an operational matter?
You would think that issuing weapons that could cause death and with inadequate training would be a matter for Scottish Government Ministers.
The Government of Scotland is responsible for the safety and well being of communities.
This is a step backwards and at some time in the future, we will see in Scotland, the first death caused by a taser.
This is the business of the Scottish Government.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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