From Jane's Police and Security Equipment
1 August 2001
Less than lethal options and the Advanced Taser
Mike McBride Editor, Jane's Police and Security Equipment
Following calls for the British police to be routinely armed in the aftermath of the Broadwater Farm Disorder, London, in 1985, various alternatives to firearms have been examined. First came rigid bar handcuffs (which almost all Forces have adopted) to replace their chain-link models. These handcuffs can control a prisoner safely and effectively due to pressure on the wrist joint. Next, longer batons were evaluated to supersede the old-fashioned wooden truncheons. As a result of these trials Forces issued their officers with either a long polycarbonate plastic baton, with or without a side handle, such as the ARNOLD or MONADNOCK, or an extendible baton, such as the ASP or CASCO. These batons are more effective in keeping a suspect at a safe distance due to their extra length.
More recently, Forces have issued CS canisters, which can temporarily incapacitate most suspects by the reaction of the CS particles on the skin. It is unusual for CS to have any long-term effects, but some Forces are still considering other chemical options, such as Pepper Spray. All of this equipment has training implications, and officers are taught the correct techniques to use in addition to their skills in risk assessment and talking to people to defuse potentially violent situations.
Meanwhile, less-than-lethal options continue to be developed around the world, and one of these is the Advanced Taser. If, as a result of research and a pilot study, the Advanced Taser becomes recognised UK police equipment, it is unlikely to replace any current use of force option, such as a baton, CS or firearm. Rather, it will add another option to the UK police officer's repertoire.
The Advanced Taser, made by Taser International in Arizona, USA, fires two probes up to a distance of 15-21ft from a replaceable air cartridge. These probes are connected to the weapon by high-voltage insulated wire. When the probes make contact with the subject, the Advanced Taser transmits powerful electrical pulses along the wires and into the body of the person through up to two inches of clothing.
Unlike traditional stun technology weapons, which operate in a 7-14W range and interfere with the communication signals within the nervous system of the target, this electro-muscular disruption (EMD) weapon uses a powerful 18-26W electrical signal to completely override the central nervous system and directly control the skeletal muscles. This EMD effect causes an uncontrollable contraction of the muscle tissue, physically debilitating a target regardless of pain tolerance or mental focus.
The M26 also provides revolutionary weapon management technology. Every time it is fired, the M26 stores the time and date, providing complete and accurate documentation of usage. Furthermore, every time an air cartridge is fired, up to 40 small confetti-like ID tags called AFIDs are ejected. Each AFID is printed with the serial number of the cartridge fired, allowing departments to determine which officers fired the cartridge.
Prior to the launch of the M Series, over 60 volunteers from SWAT teams, military special forces, and police agencies were hit with the M26 Advanced Taser (26W system) with a 100 per cent incapacitation rate. Each individual was immobilised in less than half a second. Volunteers from elite units were used because the top 20 per cent of combative suspects cause the majority of problems for law enforcement personnel. Many of these individuals do not respond to existing less-than-lethal weapons. When traditional less-than-lethal force does not subdue a suspect, force escalates, resulting in injuries or fatalities and potentially massive liability.
In addition to providing some of the most effective takedown power available, the Advanced Taser's revolutionary weapon management technology offers built-in integrity of use, since each officer is unquestionably accountable for his or her use of their Advanced Taser.
Furthermore, the Advanced Taser does not have the cross-contamination problems sometimes associated with CS or Pepper Spray: officers themselves can become adversely affected by CS particles shedding from a suspect they have to struggle with to restrain.
The Advanced Taser is issued extensively to peace officers throughout North America and is being marketed on mainland Europe. These officers rate its effectiveness highly and have confidence that it will stop an aggressive individual from causing harm to themselves or innocent bystanders.
Commentators unfamiliar with the realities of policing may have an unrealistic expectation that officers will need to escalate their use of force from initially communicating, then using empty hand techniques, then handcuffs, CS and baton, followed by the Taser, before eventually resorting to a firearm. However, police, in their duty to protect the public and bring order out of chaos, may have to use a firearm as their first response if the threat posed is serious enough to justify it. If someone is brandishing a gun, or what looks like a gun, at police officers, it would be foolhardy to expect those officers to attempt to use an option other than a firearm. Less lethal options will therefore never replace firearms.
The police have no great desire to increase the amount of force options they give to their officers, since each extra piece of kit brings with it its own cost in procurement and training. The reason why the police are being forced to look at less-than-lethal options is to manage conflict situations faced by their officers. The use of force options such as the Advanced Taser is thus necessary to protect the police and the public they serve.
1 August 2001
Less than lethal options and the Advanced Taser
Mike McBride Editor, Jane's Police and Security Equipment
Following calls for the British police to be routinely armed in the aftermath of the Broadwater Farm Disorder, London, in 1985, various alternatives to firearms have been examined. First came rigid bar handcuffs (which almost all Forces have adopted) to replace their chain-link models. These handcuffs can control a prisoner safely and effectively due to pressure on the wrist joint. Next, longer batons were evaluated to supersede the old-fashioned wooden truncheons. As a result of these trials Forces issued their officers with either a long polycarbonate plastic baton, with or without a side handle, such as the ARNOLD or MONADNOCK, or an extendible baton, such as the ASP or CASCO. These batons are more effective in keeping a suspect at a safe distance due to their extra length.
More recently, Forces have issued CS canisters, which can temporarily incapacitate most suspects by the reaction of the CS particles on the skin. It is unusual for CS to have any long-term effects, but some Forces are still considering other chemical options, such as Pepper Spray. All of this equipment has training implications, and officers are taught the correct techniques to use in addition to their skills in risk assessment and talking to people to defuse potentially violent situations.
Meanwhile, less-than-lethal options continue to be developed around the world, and one of these is the Advanced Taser. If, as a result of research and a pilot study, the Advanced Taser becomes recognised UK police equipment, it is unlikely to replace any current use of force option, such as a baton, CS or firearm. Rather, it will add another option to the UK police officer's repertoire.
The Advanced Taser, made by Taser International in Arizona, USA, fires two probes up to a distance of 15-21ft from a replaceable air cartridge. These probes are connected to the weapon by high-voltage insulated wire. When the probes make contact with the subject, the Advanced Taser transmits powerful electrical pulses along the wires and into the body of the person through up to two inches of clothing.
Unlike traditional stun technology weapons, which operate in a 7-14W range and interfere with the communication signals within the nervous system of the target, this electro-muscular disruption (EMD) weapon uses a powerful 18-26W electrical signal to completely override the central nervous system and directly control the skeletal muscles. This EMD effect causes an uncontrollable contraction of the muscle tissue, physically debilitating a target regardless of pain tolerance or mental focus.
The M26 also provides revolutionary weapon management technology. Every time it is fired, the M26 stores the time and date, providing complete and accurate documentation of usage. Furthermore, every time an air cartridge is fired, up to 40 small confetti-like ID tags called AFIDs are ejected. Each AFID is printed with the serial number of the cartridge fired, allowing departments to determine which officers fired the cartridge.
Prior to the launch of the M Series, over 60 volunteers from SWAT teams, military special forces, and police agencies were hit with the M26 Advanced Taser (26W system) with a 100 per cent incapacitation rate. Each individual was immobilised in less than half a second. Volunteers from elite units were used because the top 20 per cent of combative suspects cause the majority of problems for law enforcement personnel. Many of these individuals do not respond to existing less-than-lethal weapons. When traditional less-than-lethal force does not subdue a suspect, force escalates, resulting in injuries or fatalities and potentially massive liability.
In addition to providing some of the most effective takedown power available, the Advanced Taser's revolutionary weapon management technology offers built-in integrity of use, since each officer is unquestionably accountable for his or her use of their Advanced Taser.
Furthermore, the Advanced Taser does not have the cross-contamination problems sometimes associated with CS or Pepper Spray: officers themselves can become adversely affected by CS particles shedding from a suspect they have to struggle with to restrain.
The Advanced Taser is issued extensively to peace officers throughout North America and is being marketed on mainland Europe. These officers rate its effectiveness highly and have confidence that it will stop an aggressive individual from causing harm to themselves or innocent bystanders.
Commentators unfamiliar with the realities of policing may have an unrealistic expectation that officers will need to escalate their use of force from initially communicating, then using empty hand techniques, then handcuffs, CS and baton, followed by the Taser, before eventually resorting to a firearm. However, police, in their duty to protect the public and bring order out of chaos, may have to use a firearm as their first response if the threat posed is serious enough to justify it. If someone is brandishing a gun, or what looks like a gun, at police officers, it would be foolhardy to expect those officers to attempt to use an option other than a firearm. Less lethal options will therefore never replace firearms.
The police have no great desire to increase the amount of force options they give to their officers, since each extra piece of kit brings with it its own cost in procurement and training. The reason why the police are being forced to look at less-than-lethal options is to manage conflict situations faced by their officers. The use of force options such as the Advanced Taser is thus necessary to protect the police and the public they serve.
) with the electric fence we have up at the farm. It puts out 50,000 volts in 140 millisecond bursts. This gives you a jump, but doesn't do anything bad.