Taser use by Essex Police facing PCC review

THE Essex Police and Crime Commissioner has announced plans “to monitor and review the use of force by Essex Police on a regular basis” following an increase in the use of Taser.

Nick Alston (pictured) stressed “that this is not because I have any specific concerns about the actions of officers, but rather because it is precisely the role of the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide oversight on behalf of the public on such matters.”

Home Office statistics showed Essex Police recorded 152 Taser deployments in 2013, compared with 44 in 2009.

Mr Alston said: “There has been an increase in the overall “use” of Taser since 2009, when there were 44 uses, compared with 152 uses in 2013.  A similar broad increase in the “use” of Taser can be seen in most police forces across the country and, in Essex, Taser is “used” less than in many other counties.  I note that in Kent, with a similar population and range of challenges, there were 229 “uses” in 2013.

“The level of force and the circumstances in which police officers “use” Taser is an area of legitimate public interest.  There are risks with the discharge of Taser, and this matter has been raised at our public meetings and through other channels.

“On reflection, I believe it is important that I introduce a framework to monitor and review the use of force by Essex Police on a regular basis.”

He added: “Therefore, over the next few weeks, I will be developing a monitoring framework with Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh.  I also plan on taking the broad issue of the reasonable and proportionate “use” of Taser to the Ethics and Integrity Committee which I am setting up here in our county.”

Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, said: “I support Taser use because if it stops one police officer being injured on the streets by someone who is violent and threatening them and they then back off because they could receive a shock if they continue to try and fight and hurt officers then I am all for it.

“If we are shocking more people, maybe we should be asking the bigger question of why there are more violent people out there.”