Tasers pilot ‘fundamental shift’ in policing
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has reiterated its concerns about a pilot project beginning today (18 December) that will allow gardaí in Dublin and Waterford to carry tasers.
Tasers release an electrical current that temporarily incapacitates a person.
The ICCL described their introduction as a “significant and fundamental shift in community policing”.
The organisation has also expressed concern about the speed with which the project has been introduced, with executive director Joe O’Brien saying that the public had not had any input into the debate.
International evidence
“Members of An Garda Síochána say that tasers will help to keep them safe, but the number of gardaí assaulted on duty is falling, and international evidence and experience suggest that in fact tasers may exacerbate violent situations,” O’Brien stated.
“Furthermore, we are concerned that overlaying this taser pilot on top of the body-worn camera pilot which is already in operation is poor research practice,” he added.
The ICCL cited a 2017 study that found that, in some cases, tasers could increase attacks on police, as people interpreted a taser as an aggressor and perceived themselves to be in a hostile environment.
It also cited a review carried out in England and Wales, which found that tasers were used disproportionately against minority communities.
‘Public scrutiny essential’
The organisation welcomed some of the safeguards put in place for the use of tasers – including mandatory reporting to Foisrú, three-day training for gardaí, and the recording of their usage.
Its policing and justice policy officer Emily Williams, however, said that the ICCL was concerned that any evaluation might not be published.
“Public scrutiny and independent analysis of taser use, including any unintended consequences, are essential to ensure that they are used in a humane and rights-respecting manner,” she stated.