Banning Taser On Under-18s Is Not In Touch With Reality

UNICEF “needs to get a grip on reality”, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said, after the charity recommended that using spit guards and Taser on children in the UK should be banned.

In a report, Unicef UK said the Government should prohibit their use on children under the age of 18, and called on the Home Office to assess the reasons “for the disproportionate use of spit guards on BAME children in England”. It also recommended an increase in the age of criminal responsibility from 10 in England.

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said that Unicef was “dreaming” and “needs to get a grip on reality”.

He said: “I have been a frontline officer for nearly all of my service. I would suggest that a sizable proportion of the violent people that I’ve come across, who have left me with broken bones, cuts and bruises, have been under 18.

“It should be on a case-by-case basis. I’ve come across 12 year olds who have been violent, with weapons in their hand. And also, with an increase in mental health issues, we come across young people who are self-harming, who have weapons in their hands, and sometimes we have to use these tactics to stop them hurting themselves. So I absolutely, categorically disagree with this.”

Steve added that police officers were highly trained to use the equipment that they needed to do their job.

He said: “Officers who have dealt with Taser, of which I am one, are very well-trained. They know not to be gung-ho with it and I don’t think since Taser has been introduced we’ve seen anything like the concern people had about it, other than sensationalist headlines.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Police put themselves in harm’s way to defend us and the use of Taser and spit and bite guards provides officers with an important tactical option when facing potentially violent situations.

“We are clear that no one should be subject to use of force based on their race or ethnicity – it must be lawful, proportionate and necessary, and subject to proper scrutiny. Officers undergo comprehensive training to factor in potential vulnerabilities, and must take age and stature into account when assessing each situation.”