SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS about the health and safety risks associated with Police use of Tasers have been raised in a new report. 

The report, from Manchester based community group Resistance Lab, called A Growing Threat to Life: Taser usage by Greater Manchester Police, highlights concerns about serious injury or death resulting from their use. 

It comes at a time when Black Lives Matter protests have prompted critical conversations about policing in the UK and elsewhere. 

The Resistance Lab report also comes at a time when Desmond Ziggy Mombeyarara, from Sale, is due to appear in court.

Outcry

Footage of him being Tasered in front of his young son sparked national outcry earlier this year after it was shared on social media.

According to official figures, the use of Tasers by police forces across England and Wales has increased by more than 500% over the last decade.

In the last year alone, Greater Manchester Police’s use of Tasers increased by 73% from 832 incidents in 2017/18 to 1,442 incidents in 2018/19. 

This rate of increase exceeded the national average of 39%, as well as that of comparable forces such as the Metropolitan Police (which reported a 49% increase in the use of Tasers). 

Disparity

Resistance Lab also highlights significant racial disparities, with black people subject to the use of Taser by Greater Manchester Police at nearly 4 times the rate of white people. 

The report is calling for the abolition of Tasers. 

Report author, Dr Kerry Pimblott said Britons of all backgrounds should expect to see more cases in which members of the public suffer serious injury or death, after police use of Tasers.

Dr Pimblott said: “It is clear that the rollout of Tasers across England and Wales presents an intrinsic and growing threat to life and public safety.                             

This report shows that in our own community of Greater Manchester this threat is borne disproportionately by black communities and people with mental health conditions. Those risks are heightened with lethal consequences when Tasers are deployed against children and vulnerable adults suffering from underlying health issues such as cardiac and pulmonary conditions, diabetes and epilepsy.” 

Injustices

Sibia Akhtar, of Resistance Lab, said: “There is a long history of policing injustices against black and ethnic minority communities. 

“This report shows that Tasers are being disproportionately used against black people and that in Manchester we have among the highest levels of Taser usage nationally. 

“The police abuse their power by weaponizing the Taser against black communities with severe consequences. Taser use by police officers have been proven to mentally scar people and, in some instances, have been deadly. Therefore the perception that Tasers are a less lethal weapon is a fatal misjudgement.”