Overview | Programme | Photographs
9th November 2004
University of Bradford, United Kingdom
This seminar brought together over 30 invited experts with policy, operational, manufacturing, and academic experience to discuss the implications of new non-lethal weapons technologies for British policing. It covered a range of issues with a focus on the Taser ‘electroshock’ weapon, which is increasingly being deployed as one of the ‘minimal force options’ available to police (and military forces) around the world. The seminar provided an opportunity to discuss differing perspectives and experiences of the Taser weapon including policy, operational, medical, social, and human rights implications, and to review, discuss, and evaluate information from different sources.
The timing of this seminar was most appropriate since it followed an announcement from the Home Office, in September 2004, allowing the Taser weapon to be deployed more widely in England and Wales for use by authorised firearms officers. (Previously the Taser was on operational trial, from April 2003, with only five police forces in the UK). There will be growing public awareness and opinion of this weapon, and most likely an increase in its use.
For a discussion of the issues surrounding the use of the Taser weapon see BNLWRP Research Reports, particularly BNLWRP Research Report 6 (October 2004) and 7 (May 2005).
SESSION 1
Chair: Dr. Nick Lewer, BNLWRP
10.00 – 10.35 Introduction to the Seminar
Dr. Nick Lewer, BNLWRP
Non-Lethal Technologies – An Overview
Prof. Malcolm Dando, Mr. Neil Davison, BNLWRP
10.35 – 11:15 Developing Less Lethal - a UK Conflict Management Approach:
The Work of the United Kingdom Less Lethal Steering Group
Mr. Colin Burrows QPM, Critical Intervention Consultancy Service
SESSION 2
Chair: Mr. Neil Davison, BNLWRP
11.30 – 12.15 Less Lethal Options and the M26 Taser
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Arundale, Association of Chief Police Officers
Working Group on Police Use of Firearms
12.15 – 13.00 Operational Experience of “Taser”
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Davies, Lincolnshire Police
SESSION 3
Chair: Prof. Malcolm Dando, BNLWRP
14.00 – 14.45 The Introduction of the Taser into British Policing: Implications
for UK Emergency Departments – an overview of electronic weaponry
Dr. Anthony Bleetman, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
14.45 – 15.30 The Use of Force in the Police: Assessing Tasers as Less
Lethal Weapons
Dr. Brian Rappert, University of Exeter
15.30 – 16.00 Seminar Discussion
Final Comments
Dr. Nick Lewer and Prof. Malcolm Dando, BNLWRP
Venue:
Board Room, Richmond Building, University of Bradford
Session 3:
Presentation by Anthony Bleetman
Invited Speakers:
From left to right: Colin Burrows, Peter Davies, Anthony Bleetman, Ian Arundale,
Brian Rappert