Northern Ireland: Orde Opts For Taser Stun Gun Trial

October 5, 2007

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde is to push ahead with the adoption of taser stun guns for use by the PSNI. However the Policing Board remains split on the use of the non-lethal weapons that deliver a 50,000 volt jolt to stun the target. Sinn Fein members are opposed to the adoption of the stun guns on principle and the Policing Board had passed a resolution that deployment should be deferred until an equality assessment had been undertaken.

Despite this opposition, Sir Hugh has declared that he is bringing in 12 of the weapons in a controlled experiment that will see them carried by specially trained officers. Sir Hugh said that stun guns are in use by police forces throughout Britain and that he would go ahead with the pilot scheme to deploy the non-lethal alternative to firearms.