Fears over Taser gun expansion

[Derek]

Damn.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...-man-lee-birch

Guardian obtains footage of police officer firing Taser at naked man

PC Lee Birch cleared of assault and misconduct, but IPCC will examine incident in which he fired at Daniel Dove

Can't believe he was cleared of assault.
There must have been more to it but I can't see any reason why he had his taser drawn inside the cell let alone discharging it.

[weenie]

IMO this was not needed and do not understand why he felt the need to Taser this man naked.

[Qtx]

Naked wet man....not the best conditions to be putting an electric shock through someone.

A chief constable tried to prevent the release of footage showing the Wiltshire constable Lee Birch shooting the Taser at 23-year-old Daniel Dove – despite a court agreeing it could be published.

The Guardian obtained the footage from another source.

Typical of the self preservation attitude of many police forces. Some coppers have been doing bad things for years but some of them are starting to get caught out with cameras being everywhere these days. Recently there was a case in the US (I think) where the cops all turned their car cameras off to beat someone but one of them forgot, which is the only reason they didn't get away with it.

Some coppers just can't be trusted and putting a taser in their hand is asking for trouble.

[Kursk]

Taser not necessary but what action is appropriate if someone slaps a possibly damp and smelly pair of undies across your face? He did need restraining as this may have been a precursor to something more violent.

A good old fashioned knee in the nuts would have done nicely .

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Kursk

Taser not necessary but what action is appropriate if someone slaps a possibly damp and smelly pair of undies across your face? He did need restraining as this may have been a precursor to something more violent.

A good old fashioned knee in the nuts would have done nicely .

A bit more reasoned than the response from the Daily Mail reporter above.

There had to be a reason why he had his taser already drawn but to discharge it with no warning when the prisoner wasn't an active threat isn't on IMO. There were enough cops there to subdue someone of the prisoners size without the need for taser or baton.

Of course good old fashioned hands on restraint is more likely to cause injury than taser but that's a whole other story.

[Qtx]

While not nice to have some strangers undies thrown in your face it should hardly be called an assault on the officer, let alone requiring tasering. It's just that tasering is the easiest option for an officer and if they could get away with using it 24/7 they no doubt would.

It seems this copper just didn't want to touch a naked man more than anything though. Not something many would want to do but if you are a copper and this situation arises you have to deal with it, while keeping in mind the prisoners rights and health.

[Kursk]

So like I said a knee in the nuts and then perhaps a push down the stairs for good measure. Job done.

Joking aside, I don't think anyone should expect to get away with slapping their tacky and smelly lingerie in the face of another person without reprisal. Not least because the action disrespected authority and maybe a short, sharp, shock has been (literally) missing from his upbringing.

[TheDaddy]

I liked him as a player as well

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37082207

[denphone]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

I liked him as a player as well

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37082207

Incredibly saddened to hear this yesterday as when he did not have injuries he was a very talented player.