Tasers should never be used in an unwitnessed and unaccountable
way.
The London Assembly agreed a
motion today calling on the Met
Commissioner to ensure that video is always switched on before a
taser is discharged.
Shaun Bailey AM, who proposed the motion
said:
“Tasers are important tools for the police to keep Londoners,
and themselves, safe from harm. Such a widespread rollout though
must be implemented in a controllable and accountable fashion to
keep the public onside.
Policing by consent is one of the UK’s most important assets
and for it to be maintained the public must trust that the police
use these weapons appropriately.
It is only right then that body-worn cameras are used when
tasers are drawn where possible to protect individual officers
from any accusations of misuse.”
AM, who seconded
the motion said:
“The Assembly has spoken up today for proper safeguards for
Londoners’ human rights. The Mayor and the Met must be
transparent and accountable over taser use.
The Mayor’s statement that body-worn cameras are the
‘biggest game changer’ in protecting Londoners’ human rights
needs to be backed up by policies that ensure officers are
wearing them whenever they are equipped with weapons like tasers
that can do us harm.
Tasers are being rolled out to more officers across London,
and the rules have changed so some officers can use them when
they are on their own. It is in the public interest, and the
interest of the Met, that every officer carrying a taser is also
equipped with a body-worn camera.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes the decision of the Commissioner of the
Police of the Metropolis to increase the number of taser-trained
officers to 6,400.
The Assembly further notes the rule change that enables officers
on single patrol to carry taser and the near-complete roll out of
body worn cameras to taser-equipped officers.
The Assembly urges the Mayor to make representations to the
Commissioner calling on her to ensure that the police attempt, to
the best of their ability, to ensure that tasers are never used
in an unwitnessed and unaccountable way.
The Assembly notes that the best way to guarantee this is to make
sure that all lone taser-carrying officers are equipped with body
worn video. Apart from in circumstances where a police officer’s
safety may be in immediate danger, such video should always be
switched on before a taser is discharged.
Notes to editors:
1. Watch the full
webcast.
2. Watch Shaun Bailey explain
why he proposed the motion
3. The motion was agreed
unanimously.
