Police officer armed with Taser. THERE were 2,363 occasions last year where South Wales Police used some form of force on children. 66 per cent of the recorded numbers were for restraint, which can include handcuffing, restraining someone on the ground, or using specialist equipment to reduce the movement of someone’s arms and legs. Using firearms, dogs, batons, shields and spray also count as using force. South Wales Police force also used Tasers on children last year – including a child under the age of 11. However, the police force say the use of Taser by officers is proportionate and frequently prevents harm to both police officers and to the individual being restrained.
By Ann Yip ann yip Audience and content editor / Follow me: facebook.com/annyipjournalist
Police in Hertfordshire used Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year. Photo: Radar Police in Hertfordshire recorded using Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year, figures reveal. Home Office figures show Hertfordshire Constabulary drew Tasers on children aged under 18 on 48 occasions in 2019-20, up from 30 the previous year. Officers fired a Taser four times, although none of those involved under-11s. The figures count the number of times each officer involved in an incident used the device rather than the number of separate incidents or how many children were involved. The age recorded is that perceived by the officer.
By Ann Yip ann yip Audience and content editor / Follow me: facebook.com/annyipjournalist
Police in Hertfordshire used Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year. Photo: Radar Police in Hertfordshire recorded using Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year, figures reveal. Home Office figures show Hertfordshire Constabulary drew Tasers on children aged under 18 on 48 occasions in 2019-20, up from 30 the previous year. Officers fired a Taser four times, although none of those involved under-11s. The figures count the number of times each officer involved in an incident used the device rather than the number of separate incidents or how many children were involved. The age recorded is that perceived by the officer.
By Ann Yip ann yip Audience and content editor / Follow me: facebook.com/annyipjournalist
Police in Essex used Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year. Photo: Radar Police in Essex recorded using Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year. Home Office figures show Essex Police drew Tasers on children aged under 18 on 36 occasions in 2019-20, up from 21 the previous year. An officer fired a Taser once on someone aged between 11 and 17. In 11 cases, officers did not record whether the device was fired. The figure counts the number of times each officer involved in an incident used the device rather than the number of separate incidents or how many children were involved. The age recorded is that perceived by the officer.
But officers did not report firing the electrical weapons in any of those cases. The Children’s Rights Alliance for England says the recorded increase in use of Tasers against children by police forces across England and Wales is “alarming”. Here is what our readers had to say. Eva Barbara said: How, these days, is a police officer supposed to know that a teenager is over 18? If they need to draw their Tasers, the behaviour of the so called child is out of control. So what if they feel intimidated, their behaviour is obviously intimidating to someone else or the police would not be there in the first place. It is time that we made parents more responsible for their children, and bring them both to court to face justice. Then the parent might actually do what they are supposed to do, attend to their child instead of having their head in the sand and saying it is not my responsibility or problem.