2021/24433 - Taser Arming training

REQUEST

GP recently won a bid of £66,000 from the UK government to fund 80 new Tasers. Past FOI disclosures indicate that GP planned to have a total of approx. 300 officers trained in the use of Tasers by March 2020.

• Was the training target for Gwent Police officers in March 2020 reached? If not, can you confirm the number of GP officers trained?
• What is the ratio of Tasers to officers in Gwent Police – Does every trained officer have their own device?

o If not, can you clarify how many Taser devices GP do stock?

• In terms of training, can you confirm:

o Whether any GP officers to date have completed Axon/Taser International’s “Master Instructor” training course, and, if so, what their roles and responsibilities as instructors are, and whether they are paid by GP or Axon/TI to carry out those training duties.

o If none have completed the Master Instructor course, could you clarify who delivers Taser training for your officers? Are they external trainers (e.g. Axon employees)? Are they police officers from other forces within Wales/England who have completed the Master Instructor course? If the latter, please confirm from which force the trainer originates.

• What support, if any, is offered to GP by Axon/Taser Int. after an adverse Taser incident? (e.g where a complaint is made and/or a person suffers health complications after being tasered)

o Could you confirm what measures, training and/or guidance (if any) are currently in place to prevent over-reliance on stun guns by GP when responding to mental health crises?

RESPONSE