High Peak Liberal Democrats

Norman Lamb calls for urgent review of taser use

Norman Lamb has called for an urgent review of the use of tasers by police officers, following the death of former footballer Dalian Atkinson.

In June, Lamb called for an outright ban on the use of tasers in mental health settings, and tabled amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill to introduce such a ban. In response to last night's death, however, he is now calling for an urgent national review of tasers and electroshock weapons in all settings.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) have stated that TaserX26 weapons, used by police officers in Britain, cause extreme pain and constitute a form of torture.

Norman Lamb said:

"Following this tragedy, the Government must waste no time in launching a full review of taser use in the UK. The recent reports of people dying shortly after being tasered is extremely alarming and raise worrying questions about the appropriateness of this practice and the circumstances in which these weapons are being used, particularly against black and minority ethnic people and those with mental illness.

"Theresa May raised concerns over the use of tasers when she was Home Secretary. She must now set up a review as a matter of urgency if we are to prevent any further tragedies from happening in future."

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