Fears of Taser overuse as children and the elderly are targeted by police stun guns

Tasers are being used on elderly people and children, figures revealed on Friday.

Hundreds of teenagers and more than 40 pensioners have been fired at or threatened by police armed with the electric stun weapons.

Among those hit with a 50,000-volt shock were a frail 89-year-old man and a girl aged just 14.
Concerns: Police are using Taser guns on children and the elderly despite fears it could have adverse effects

Concerns: Police are using Taser guns on children and the elderly despite fears it could have adverse effects

The figures raised fears the weapons may be being overused.

Critics warned they were ‘potentially lethal’ and could be more dangerous when targeted against vulnerable people.

Each gun delivers a powerful electric bolt along copper wires linked to two darts which can travel up to 25ft.

It overrides the central nervous system and causes uncontrollable muscle contractions, making the suspect collapse.

National police guidance suggests officers should be ‘vigilant’ when considering whether to stun a child.
But figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed that 59 under-18s were shot at over a 30-month period.

More than 120 others, including a boy of 12, had the weapon aimed at them by police.

The statistics for older people are no less shocking. A total of 18 over-60s were hit by tasers and a further 24 were targeted or had a gun drawn on them between July 2007 and December last year.

The oldest was an 89-year-old war veteran who was threatening to cut his throat with a piece of broken glass.

North Wales police said he was ‘Tasered’ for his own safety. The retired carpenter, who was apparently suffering from the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, was left traumatised.
Immobilised: The Taser sends a 50,000-volt shock through the victim

Immobilised: The Taser sends a 50,000-volt shock through the victim

Oliver Sprague of Amnesty International called for a reversal of the policy that allowed the stun guns to be used by rank-and-file officers.

He said: ‘There are serious concerns that Tasers could be more dangerous to vulnerable groups, such as children, older people and those with mental health issues.

‘That’s why the split-second decision on whether to fire the Taser should be made only by an officer who has had the highest level of training and only in limited circumstances.

‘Amnesty isn’t saying that Tasers should never be used – but they must be used safely.

‘We’re worried that widespread deployment to rank-and-file officers could be the start of a slippery slope towards further arming of the police, or towards a situation like that in the U.S. where Tasers have been widely misused and people have died.’