States vote to allow more Police Officers to use Tasers

Wednesday 04 November 2020

The States Assembly have voted to allow Tasers to be used by more Police Officers.

The proposition, lodged by the Minister for Home Affairs with amendments by a Scrutiny Panel, put forward that officers that complete a five-day National Standard Taser Course will be allowed to use the weapons, rather than just Authorised Firearms Officers.

The Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel’s amendments mean that this will be a trial period, and that at the end of that year, a review will be held investigating the use of Tasers, taking in factors such as how many were used on the mentally vulnerable and under-18s. Officers will also have had to have completed their two-year probationary period to use Tasers. 

However, Scrutiny’s attempt to rule that any use of Tasers ‘must be recorded on body-worn cameras’ was overruled by an amendment that changed the phrasing to ‘must, wherever practicable, be recorded on body-worn cameras’. 

Pictured: Chief Inspector Mark Hafey said last month that more Officers with tasers would allow them to respond to situations quicker.

Police have said they plan to give the Tasers to twenty Officers, to ensure there are two officers on duty with Tasers, twenty four hours a day.  

Speaking in the Assembly, Deputy Kirsten Morel said that having initially been adamant he vote against the proposition, it was a presentation by Officers themselves that changed his mind to vote in favour. 

Explaining his decision, Deputy Morel said he reasoned: “What right do I have to deny them [Tasers] when the alternative is basically asking police officers to engage with potentially violent people – up front, very close, hand to hand, biting, wrestling, punching, scratching? That sort of thing is what I’m asking them to do if I deny them the use of Tasers.” 

Pictured: Home Affairs Minister Len Norman brought forward the proposition, though agreed with Scrutiny's suggestion it should be a trial year.

However, whilst Senator Steve Pallett also said he would be voting for the proposition, he warned of the need for caution when handling cases relate to mental health: “I can’t stress enough that the States of Jersey Police really need to consider what level of force they use with somebody who is clearly showing signs of a mental health crisis or mental health issues…

“There have been occasions and we’ve seen footage nationwide of situations where unfortunately that’s not happened, and I really do hope that the reporting systems that have been put in place will assist the States of Jersey Police in making the correct decision when they consider what levels of force should be used.”

Following the debate, Home Affairs Minister Len Norman released a statement reading: “Following today’s States Assembly debate regarding amending the current rules surrounding the authorised deployment of Tasers for the States of Jersey Police, I am pleased that we have reached a positive result in passing the proposition with the amendment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel for their robust review of the proposition. 

“I believe that this is a proportionate response to the original proposition, and I, and the Senior Management team of the States of Jersey Police, welcome the opportunity to report back to Members after a trial period of one year as a measured approach to introducing these changes with an appropriate level of political oversight.

“This change brings the States of Jersey Police in line with all other British Police Forces (including Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and within national guidance in regarding Taser as standard PPE for officers. Enabling the Police to minimise risk and maximise the safety of those involved, with the overarching principle being to save and preserve life.”