December 23, 2016 9.25 am
This story is over 87 months old
Marc Jones: How the taser is saving lives in Lincolnshire
The man who invented the taser gun, Jack Cover, used to tell his wife the device had saved 100,000 lives. There are no records to show whether the late Jack Cover was right – but it’s hard to argue with his logic. Jack created the taser as a response to a rash of plane hijackings…
The man who invented the taser gun, Jack Cover, used to tell his wife the device had saved 100,000 lives.
There are no records to show whether the late Jack Cover was right – but it’s hard to argue with his logic.
Jack created the taser as a response to a rash of plane hijackings in the 1960s – when a stray bullet from an air marshal could bring down the entire plane.
Then working on the Apollo moon landings the inventor wanted to create a gadget that would immobilise attackers without endangering passengers.
In short the taser was designed to save lives.
And nearly 50 years later the Chicago-born scientist’s work is still savings lives right here in Lincolnshire.
This week Lincolnshire Police announced it was to train over half of response officers to use and carry taser – the highest proportion of any force in England.
It’s a move I wholeheartedly support. I have seen for myself how even the threat of a taser can diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.
A man confronting an officer with a sword and a resident threatening people with a syringe of blood are just two of the life-threatening situations defused by police “red-dotting” suspects.
“Red-dotting” is the process of pointing the device at a person and a red light is projected on to them which, alongside robust warnings, is often enough to give pause for thought and lead to a de-escalation of tensions very quickly.
I believe it is my duty to support the Chief Constable in ensuring our officers are supplied with, and trained to use, whatever non-lethal equipment is necessary to keep them safe from harm and protect the public.
According to Home Office statistics there are around 250 assaults on police officers in Lincolnshire within a year. That’s five a week. Nearly a third of those assaults result in injuries.
That means that, quite literally, our police officers risk their own safety on a daily basis in order to safeguard the public.
It is absolutely crucial that we do everything possible to protect them so they can protect you.
In Lincolnshire that presents particular challenges. Geographically, Lincolnshire is a huge county and we are also the lowest funded force in the whole of the country. This means that a single crew is sent in the vast majority of cases.
The taser gives officers an added sense of security when back up can take some time to arrive. Taser is actually only fired about once a month in Lincolnshire and despite the number of officers carrying it going up, year on year the firing of it has reduced.
The fact that it is visible is often all that is needed.
Officers have to go through very thorough annual training processes and have to follow strict guidelines about their use. These are reviewed regularly as are the detailed records of each time taser is drawn from its holster to ensure it is being used appropriately.
Tasers are not the only technology we are employing in the fight to keep officers safe and effective while patrolling our streets.
All our officers are now fitted with body cameras which can provide vital evidence along with mobile devices to record information and get it back to the station without all the paperwork of days gone by.
I know there is more to do to reduce red tape and paperwork to keep officers out on patrol longer and we are working on that too. They even carry a palm sized printer for tickets to save writing them out.
My current budget consultation is also exploring the public’s views on providing the latest mobile equipment to keep front line personnel updated, safe and able to protect the public better.
I will continue to seek new and innovative ways to protect our officers and our communities from crime and will do everything possible to support our front-line team members as they take to the streets each day.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
December 23, 2016 8.33 am
This story is over 87 months old
Marc Jones: How the taser is saving lives in Lincolnshire
The man who invented the taser gun, Jack Cover, used to tell his wife the device had saved 100,000 lives. There are no records to show whether the late Jack Cover was right – but it’s hard to argue with his logic. Jack created the taser as a response to a rash of plane hijackings…
By Marc JonesLincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner
The man who invented the taser gun, Jack Cover, used to tell his wife the device had saved 100,000 lives.
There are no records to show whether the late Jack Cover was right – but it’s hard to argue with his logic.
Jack created the taser as a response to a rash of plane hijackings in the 1960s – when a stray bullet from an air marshal could bring down the entire plane.
Then working on the Apollo moon landings the inventor wanted to create a gadget that would immobilise attackers without endangering passengers.
In short the taser was designed to save lives.
And nearly 50 years later the Chicago-born scientist’s work is still savings lives right here in Lincolnshire.
This week Lincolnshire Police announced it was to train over half of response officers to use and carry taser – the highest proportion of any force in England.
It’s a move I wholeheartedly support. I have seen for myself how even the threat of a taser can diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.
A man confronting an officer with a sword and a resident threatening people with a syringe of blood are just two of the life-threatening situations defused by police “red-dotting” suspects.
“Red-dotting” is the process of pointing the device at a person and a red light is projected on to them which, alongside robust warnings, is often enough to give pause for thought and lead to a de-escalation of tensions very quickly.
I believe it is my duty to support the Chief Constable in ensuring our officers are supplied with, and trained to use, whatever non-lethal equipment is necessary to keep them safe from harm and protect the public.
According to Home Office statistics there are around 250 assaults on police officers in Lincolnshire within a year. That’s five a week. Nearly a third of those assaults result in injuries.
That means that, quite literally, our police officers risk their own safety on a daily basis in order to safeguard the public.
It is absolutely crucial that we do everything possible to protect them so they can protect you.
In Lincolnshire that presents particular challenges. Geographically, Lincolnshire is a huge county and we are also the lowest funded force in the whole of the country. This means that a single crew is sent in the vast majority of cases.
The taser gives officers an added sense of security when back up can take some time to arrive. Taser is actually only fired about once a month in Lincolnshire and despite the number of officers carrying it going up, year on year the firing of it has reduced.
The fact that it is visible is often all that is needed.
Officers have to go through very thorough annual training processes and have to follow strict guidelines about their use. These are reviewed regularly as are the detailed records of each time taser is drawn from its holster to ensure it is being used appropriately.
Tasers are not the only technology we are employing in the fight to keep officers safe and effective while patrolling our streets.
All our officers are now fitted with body cameras which can provide vital evidence along with mobile devices to record information and get it back to the station without all the paperwork of days gone by.
I know there is more to do to reduce red tape and paperwork to keep officers out on patrol longer and we are working on that too. They even carry a palm sized printer for tickets to save writing them out.
My current budget consultation is also exploring the public’s views on providing the latest mobile equipment to keep front line personnel updated, safe and able to protect the public better.
I will continue to seek new and innovative ways to protect our officers and our communities from crime and will do everything possible to support our front-line team members as they take to the streets each day.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The 2024 Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, seeking to spotlight outstanding businesses within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Hosted by Stonebow Media, the publisher behind The Lincolnite and the MyLocal platform, this prestigious event is designed to honour the achievements of the regional business community.
Thanks to the headline sponsorship from the University of Lincoln Enterprise & Research department, the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of local enterprises.
The awards are also sponsored by Ringrose Law, Duncan & Toplis, Sills & Betteridge and Pearson Hydraulics. A small number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. Contact [email protected] to discuss partnerships.
Businesses can nominate themselves across eleven awards categories:
The deadline for nominations is May 24, with the judges’ deliberation lunch set for May 29.The judging panel includes business experts and professionals from Lincolnshire and event sponsors.
The Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 gala will take place at the Engine Shed on July 12, 2024.
Enhance profile & credibility: Securing an award or being shortlisted acts as a powerful endorsement, signaling trustworthiness to potential customers and helping to distinguish your business from competitors. Displaying the award on your communications can significantly boost your brand’s perception.
Insightful focus & feedback: The application process encourages deep reflection on your business strategy and direction, offering invaluable feedback and clarity, even for new ventures.
Team confidence boost: Recognition from the awards can significantly uplift your team’s morale, affirming the value and potential of your business in the eyes of industry experts.
Marketing & PR boost: Being associated with the awards, even as a nominee, can enhance brand visibility, providing ample content opportunities for social media and other marketing channels.
Networking opportunities: The awards connect you with local business leaders and experts, offering a platform to seek advice, share ideas, and foster future partnerships. The ceremony itself is an excellent occasion for networking with peers and celebrating mutual successes.
Potential to win: Entering offers a chance to win and gain all the associated benefits, but even without taking home a trophy, the process can yield significant advantages for your business.
A Lady Gaga loving kitten owned by a couple who run a charity for disabled pets featured on Channel 5’s The Pet Psychic.
Pet Psychic Beth Lee-Crowther comes to the aid of pet owners and in Tuesday night’s episode she met Cookie the kitten, a depressed camel, and looked at whether a dog can predict the future.