Tasers

Question

Why are tasers used on individuals who may unknown to the taser user be a suffer of epilepsy (~1% of the population) when government reports have consistently found usage of taser heightens the chances of an epileptic attack?

Answer

In the UK The College of Policing provides official guidance, via Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on the use of Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) which are sometimes referred to as “Tasers”. The guidance take cognizance of the medical implications of Taser use on a subject, including the potential to trigger epileptic seizures.

The issue of any CED device to a Police Service is subject to a comprehensive testing process that includes independent medical assessment and final authorisation by the Home Office. The Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Implications of Les Lethal Weapons (SACMILL) is a non-departmental public body that provided independent advice regarding the implications of less lethal weapons, including CEDs that are used by Police. SACMILL ensure that each device is subject to a rigorous testing process, including potential medical implications, prior to submitting a statement to the Home Office, who will make the final decision to authorise the device to UK Police Services.

CEDs devices are only issued to Authorised Firearms Officers (and Specialist Firearms Officers) within the PSNI as a less lethal option to conventional firearms. They are only deployed in circumstances where there is a risk of death or serious injury and each deployment is subject to an automatic referral to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The table below shows the number of deployments where the CED was drawn and also the number of times the CED was fired, which is extremely low.

Police Guidance and Epilepsy

Medical advisory bodies and Police Guidance recognise that CED discharge may trigger seizures in individuals with pre-existing epilepsy and this is a consideration for officers who deploy with CEDs. Police Services, in collaboration with organisations such as Epilepsy Scotland, have developed training materials to assist officers in recognising different types of seizures and understanding when other tactics may be more appropriate to be used during a medical emergency.

While epilepsy is not explicitly listed as a blanket contraindication in the main Authorised Professional Practice (APP) documents (as conditions vary widely), officers are expected to use the National Decision Model (NDM) to dynamically risk-assess each situation on its own individual merits before deciding on the most appropriate tactic to use to resolve the incident in the safest manner possible.

Any use of force by a Police officer, including the use of CEDs, must be necessary, proportionate, and fully justifiable to the threat faced. Using a CED for mere "procedural compliance" is strictly not permitted.

Past incidents, such as the case of Howard Swarray in 2011 where a man was subject to a CED while having an epileptic seizure, prompted reviews and calls for greater consideration of medical emergencies in police training and guid lines. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has expressed concern about the use of CEDs on vulnerable people, including those with medical conditions or mental health issues.

In summary, the APP provides the overarching framework for CED use, which incorporates awareness of medical conditions like epilepsy and dictates that officers must use discretion and appropriate tactics in dynamic situations. Teams who are deployed with CEDs will include officers who are trained to a higher level in first aid.

Frank McManus