Use of Conductive Energy Device – TASER

Policy Scope:

 

All South Yorkshire Police staff who are concerned in the:

 

§  Training, deployment, supervision and command of Taser Officers.

§  Maintenance and transport of Taser equipment.

§  Handling of persons who have been the subject of a Taser discharge.

 

Policy Aims and Objectives:

 

The aim of this policy is to provide those all South Yorkshire Police Staff involved with Taser the knowledge and information necessary for them to act safely and effectively. It is aimed at providing all police officers and support staff with definitive advice about their roles and responsibilities and the procedures relating to Taser deployments and equipment.

 

Taser is a Conductive Energy Device, classified as ‘prohibited weapons’ by virtue of Section 5 Firearms Act 1968).

 

Further detailed information and operational guidance is available in various documents listed in the Taser Standard Operating Procedures. In addition Standard Operating Procedues for Selection and Training are available (see OSS Intranet site).

 

Taser will be carried and deployed in South Yorkshire in accordance with ACPO policy and guidance.

 

The ACPO Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers provides detailed guidelines under which police officers should operate in armed situations.

 

Due to the diverse nature of policing operations it is not possible to provide a definitive list of circumstances where Taser should be used. The decision to deploy and/or use Taser will depend on the Commander’s / Officer’s assessment of the situation. Taser will only be issued and deployed in accordance with the Taser Standard Operating Procedures.

 

Officers / Commanders must consider and use the Conflict Management Model (CMM).

 

Officers may be called upon to explain and justify why force was used and actions taken may need to be defended in both criminal and civil courts.

 

Equality Act 2010:

 

The Act creates a statutory requirement for all Functions and Policies (Including Procedural Instructions) to be analysed for their effect on equality, diversity and human rights, with due regard to the General Duty.

 

In principle, this document has been assessed for discrimination, which cannot be justified, among other diverse groups.

  

Human Rights and Discretion:

 

The purpose of providing policy is to give an indication to staff of the expected course of action. However, it is not possible to cater for every possible combination of factors that would justify a departure from stated policy. The Human Rights Act 1998 requires the proper use of discretion at all times and nothing within this policy and associated procedural Instructions prohibits the proper use of discretion in appropriate circumstances.

 

Where action is taken that has the potential to interfere with an individual’s human rights, the reasons behind the making of the decision to act in that way should be recorded on the appropriate forms, or where this is not practical in pocket books or policy logs.

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000:

 

Exemptions do not apply to this Statement of Agreed Policy under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

 

Management of Police Information (MoPI)

 

This policy falls within MoPI: No

 

Audit Arrangements:

 

This Policy will be reviewed by the Senior Command Team six months after implementation and thereafter annually as part of the self-assessment process.

 

Rights of redress for members of the public:

 

Anyone who feels that a member of SYP staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly has the right to make a complaint. Initial action should be taken in one of the following ways:

  • Complaint in writing or in person to the Senior Officer at the appropriate police station, or in writing to the Chief Constable of the force concerned

  • Visit a local Citizens’ Advice Bureau

  • Contact a solicitor

  • Use the policy for Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control.

Rights of redress for South Yorkshire Police Staff:

 

South Yorkshire Police staff who feel they have grounds for concern in relation to the implementation of policies may:

  • Pursue concerns through their line manager
  • Contact their First Contact Officer
  • Pursue a grievance through the South Yorkshire Police Fairness at Work Procedure
  • Seek advice from their staff association or trades union

  • Use procedural instruction D50241 Management of Complaints, in the section entitled Handling Complaints relating to Direction and Control. 

Start Date:

 

28 November 2005

 

(Supercedes Statement of Agreed Policy Use of Less Lethal Technologies - Taser) November 2009

Equality Analysis: 
application/pdf iconD51281 Use of Conductive Energy Device Taser.pdf