France is testing stun guns for police officers on public transport

Taser weapons are designed to temporarily incapacitate suspects with an electric shock before the police arrest them.

However, the use of the weapon by police is controversial and has been linked to numerous deaths, while human rights groups claim it can be deadly if misused. The manufacturer Taser, the largest manufacturer of stun guns, claims that their products are safe.

Speaking to TF1 television, Tabarot said the use of stun guns could be an “appropriate” and “proportionate” response to violent incidents on public transport.

He added that 10 percent of the railway police, or about 300 to 400 police officers, will be authorized to carry these weapons “in the coming weeks.”

– Our fellow citizens are looking for safety in transport – said Tabarot, emphasizing that police officers must “be able to protect themselves and passengers”.

According to a decree of the interior and transport ministries, published in the official gazette, SNCF and Paris public transport officials may be authorized to carry stun guns “to increase control over risky situations, reduce the use of firearms and limit the risk of bodily harm to third parties and internal security agents”.

The permit to carry this “illegal” weapon is issued “on an experimental basis” for a period of three years from the entry into force of the decree.

The Ministry of Transport stated that in some countries Taser has shown effectiveness.

In France, the measure will come into force after the publication of a regulation with detailed procedures and prior training for authorized police officers, the ministry told AFP.

– At the end of the process, an assessment of the system will be carried out – the ministry adds.

The SNCF has 3,000 police officers in its internal rail service, while the Paris metro and bus company RATP has around 1,000 security officers. All are trained and authorized to carry firearms.

(Vijesti.ba)