Weapons used by UK police
There are many specific guidelines which deal with the use of police weapons. As a more general point it is important to note that police should only use weapons in certain circumstances and only when it is reasonable to do so. This is in line with the general rule in terms of police powers to use force which is only to be used where proportionate and reasonably necessary.
Police Batons
Police are allowed to carry batons with them but may only use them when it is both reasonable and proportionate to do so. The image of police using their batons on civilians is usually associated with the 1970s and the large-scale football hooliganism that was prevalent at the time. Often police officers would be attacked whilst dispersing the hooligans and would use their batons to force the hooligans back.
Whilst the issue of hooliganism has significantly receded over the past 40 years, the issue of using batons was thrust back into the spotlight in 2009 when a protestor, Ian Tomlinson, was killed after being allegedly repeatedly struck by a police officer during the G20 riots. This tragedy again demonstrated the difficulty in defining just what reasonable force is in certain circumstances.
Pepper Spray
Pepper spray is generally used by spraying it directly into an individual’s eyes, forcing them to close them. The spray gives a burning sensation which will last approximately 30 minutes. The idea behind the use of a pepper spray is that it renders the receiver of the spray with reduced vision and therefore reduces the chances that they will approach police in a threatening way; however, it is designed not to cause any permanent damage.
Pepper spray was introduced in the UK in 2001 but is not that commonly used by police officers. There are many criticisms of the use of pepper spray ranging from the fact that it does not work on all individuals to the suggestion it could cause more damage to the eyes than first thought. These are perhaps some of the reasons why it is not highly used in the UK; nevertheless, it is still available to UK officers and is occasionally used so long as it is deemed reasonable in all the circumstances.
Tasers
A taser is a type of gun which when used is designed to only temporarily disable a suspect. As with the use of all types of force distributed by the police, the use of a taser must be reasonable and so the police cannot simply use a taser on any potential suspect or anybody directing violent language towards them.
Tasers have been placed in the media spotlight recently after at least two people died in separate incidents after being struck by a taser. Campaigners believe that tasers can do more damage than simply temporary disablement, particularly to individuals with heart troubles. These incidents have only lead to more calls for police to desist from using them.
The police must exercise their discretion when using weapons and only use force that is reasonable; naturally, the debate as to what is ‘reasonable’ in certain circumstances will continue to rage as it is impossible to define reasonableness for all circumstances.
- Source:
- FindLaw
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