Tory councillor calls for Bristol police to be routinely armed with stun guns
A Conservative councillor has called on Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens to regularly arm police officers with TASER stun-guns on the streets of Bristol.
Councillor Richard Eddy, ward councillor for Bishopsworth, who served on the Avon & Somerset Police Authority’s selection body before the first direct elections for the PCC in November, has written to Mrs Mountstevens suggesting the time has come for a radical review of the force’s existing policy.
His call comes in the wake of the news that the Police Federation in Wiltshire is lobbying for stun-guns to be routinely issued to serving police officers.
Mr Eddy said: “The United Kingdom has a commendable history of non-armed police officers, but now that a non-lethal alternative to firearms is available it would be wrong to automatically insist that the police are not able to properly defend themselves.
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“It is not only unfair but monstrously immoral for bobbies on the beat to be expected to confront dangerous criminals armed only with their wits and a truncheon.
“The recent example in Manchester where two unarmed WPCs were tragically ambushed and murdered is a timely reminder of the risks to life and limb which our police officers daily brave.
“Despite budget restrictions, it would be appalling if the absence of TASER stun guns contributed to further losses of personnel and helped to compromise the effectiveness of the police.
“I have written to Sue Mountstevens regarding this matter and hope to see a reversal of the existing out-dated policy.”
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by Brennus
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:39PM
“The police don't wish to be routinely armed.”
by C_Freak
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:04PM
“He just said it wer a timely reminder, and so it is.
Slightly distasteful?
Not half as distasteful as the constant abuse that's given to any Tory what has summat to say.”
by Samtron2000
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 11:19AM
“@C_Freak. Why then is he using the two fallen PC's (WPC haven't existed for years) as an example when he is talking about arming Police with Tasers. Alright, they are attending, but the fact remains both officers were armed with Tasers!! Poor example Clr Eddy, even slightly distasteful!”
by C_Freak
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:55AM
“Samtron2000, you apparently can't read mate.
What he said wer, "The recent example in Manchester where two unarmed WPCs were tragically ambushed and murdered is a timely reminder of the risks to life and limb which our police officers daily brave"
He just said it wer a 'timely reminder' to the risks. . He didn't say tasers would have saved um.
Give um all the tools they needs ta do the properly I say. . The older thee gets the more vunerable deese feels out there. Loads is now afraid to go out at night.”
by linkyork
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 11:13PM
“Sureky with the present cuts they could'nt affort guns away.”
by Samtron2000
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 10:56PM
“""The recent example in Manchester where two unarmed WPCs were tragically ambushed and murdered is a timely reminder of the risks to life and limb which our police officers daily brave"
They were both armed with Tasers! One managed to fire it but missed, the other had already been shot in the back, severing her spinal cord. Both were then shot repeatedly in the head, the. Blown up by a grenade! Yeah tasers will do the job!!
What a brainless door handle this Richard Eddy fellow is!”
by BedmoBanjo
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 9:36AM
“Ooooooh - hark at ee. Er, not really comparing so much as enjoying the fact we're in this debate and NOT in a debate like America. My apologies...
PS You tried to compare US police tactics to UK tactics so I feel you may be, er, talking out your posterior.”
by BristolMark2
Monday, February 18 2013, 7:42PM
“I suspect Ms Mountstevens has more than enough sense to not give this any more consideration than it deserves. I on the other hand would happily tell Mr Eddy exactly where he can stick his TASER guns. I would say it's one of the worst ideas from a BCC councillor we've heard in a while, but it's hard to keep up with just how many of those there have been.”
by C_Freak
Monday, February 18 2013, 7:07PM
“In Minnesota an elderly lady was stopped for speeding and the state trooper who stopped her on checking her licence noticed she also had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. She had a .45 auto in the glove box, a 9mm Glock in the centre console and a 38 special in her purse. The trooper told a local paper that he asked her what she was so afraid of and she replied "Not a -------- thing"”
by C_Freak
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:12PM
“What's thee talking about Gazza? America? When they stopped ordinary law-biding people from having sporting and target guns, thas when the criminals started getting all theirs. All the gun crime is with illegally held weapons. It's nearly as bad yer now!”