Axon Enterprises Inc (AXON)

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The following release from UK government's Home Office means UK is moving toward full deployment, worth a $100 million or more to Taser, and this change in policy is a green light to many other nations, which will lead them to place major orders. (The big French order is still coming any day...)

Thursday 19 July 2007 12:19
Home Office (National)

Extending the police use of taser


Firearms officers will be able to use Taser in a greater set of circumstances, the Home Office and the Association of Police Officers (ACPO) announced today.

This extension to the circumstances where Taser - a conducted energy device which is less lethal than conventional firearms - can be used will apply to the 6,500-plus authorised firearms officers in England and Wales from tomorrow (Friday 20 July).

These officers will be able to deploy Taser in operations or incidents where the use of firearms is not authorised, but where officers are facing violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would need to use force to protect the public or themselves.

It has also been announced today that the deployment of Taser by specially trained police units who are not firearms officers, but who are facing a similar threat of violence, will be trialled in ten police forces. The twelve-month trials will commence on 1 September 2007 and take place in the following forces: Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, Gwent, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Metropolitan Police, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, North Wales and West Yorkshire.

Tony McNulty, Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing, said:

"Police officers put themselves in harm's way every day and I want them to have the equipment they need to protect themselves and the public. Taser gives police an additional tactical option that is less lethal than conventional firearms and its use can help resolve incidents and limit the incidence of serious injury."

Mike Tonge, Chief Constable of Gwent Police and ACPO Lead for Conflict Management, said:

"Taser provides police officers with an additional less lethal option to deal with conflict management situations and ACPO fully welcomes this extension to the use of Taser.''

Today's announcement follows extensive consultation between the Home Office and ACPO's Conflict Management Working Group and the receipt of independent medical advice on the extension and trial. Thorough examination of the police use of Tasers in England and Wales has shown that they provide an additional and less lethal option for police when dealing with violent or threatening situation, compared to conventional firearms.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. A Written Ministerial Statement from Home Office Minister Tony McNulty on extending the police use of Taser has been laid to Parliament today and will be available on the Home Office website:
http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operatio...