Police Tasers
What are the risks of being tasered, and how safe are the alternative methods available to police, like CS spray, batons and police dogs? Melanie Abbott investigates.
More and more police are being armed with Taser stun guns prompting questions about whether they are always used in the right circumstances. Campaigners point to the controversial cases of partially-sighted Colin Farmer, Tasered in the back when police mistook his white stick for a Samurai sword. And 23 year-old Jordan Begley who died after being Tasered by Greater Manchester Police in July this year.
But how much do we really know about how dangerous these stun guns are compared with alternatives like CS spray, batons and police dogs? And is the training adequate? Melanie Abbott is given rare access to police officers as they undertake their final Taser assessment. And she'll hear demands for more research into the medical impact of being Tasered.
Producer: Sally Abrahams.
Last on
More episodes
![]()
Undercover Police
Melanie Abbott probes the activities of undercover police officers.
![]()
Police and Crime Commissioners
An assessment of Police and Crime Commissioners' performance six months into the job.
![]()
Police Complaints
Is the Independent Police Complaints Commission up to the job? Simon Cox investigates.
Broadcast
- Thu 19 Sep 2013 20:00BBC Radio 4
Featured in...
![]()
The Best of The Report: Policing, Crime & The Law
From police complaints to unsolved murders: The Report investigates all areas of the law
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
The Best of The Report
Listen again to the best investigations from The Report team
Podcast
-
![]()
The Report
Original insights into major news stories and topical investigations
