By Steven Bell

TASER GUNS added to the police armoury in Tayside could turn their target into a human fireball, according to guidance issued to officers.

The controversial weapon carries a “risk of flammability” when a suspect has been sprayed with CS or doused in certain other liquids.

It can also cause the target to involuntarily discharge their weapon—but senior officers stressed yesterday that the hazards had been carefully considered.

A police guidance document said, “Research…has demonstrated that there is a risk of flammability if someone has already been sprayed with an incapacitant containing a flammable solvent.

“Clearly, there is also a risk of flammability where the subject’s clothing is doused with other flammable liquids. These might include, but are not limited to, lighter fuel, petrol and strong alcoholic spirits.

“This heightened risk must be factored in when assessing the ‘appropriateness’ and ‘necessity’ of using a Taser.

“It is, however, recognised that there are circumstances where the only alternative may be the use of a conventional, potentially lethal firearm, or where activation of the Taser irrespective of the additional risk is absolutely necessary to protect life.”

The document, released to the public for the first time, also states that the normal reaction of a person exposed to the discharge of a Taser is “the loss of some voluntary muscle control”—which could result in a fall.

It continues, “The Taser normally causes immediate incapacitation and its effect may also cause muscles to contract.

“This potential reaction requires to be factored into any decision to utilise the Taser against a subject actually holding what is believed to be a firearm, as the application of the Taser may cause the subject to unintentionally and indiscriminately discharge the firearm.”

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) said yesterday, “Many of the risks that are identified in the document have never happened in Scotland, the UK or other places.”

Grampian yesterday became the latest Scottish police force to introduce the 50,000 volt Taser, following Tayside earlier this month and others.

Campaign groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the weapon, citing a number of deaths around the world involving Taser.

Police in Scotland stressed that “immediate and effective medical support” will be available when the stun gun is used.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Learmonth, ACPOS operational support, said, “Following the trials in England during 2003/2004 careful consideration was given to the introduction of Taser.

“The trials were independently evaluated and the report on the operational trials concluded that the use of Taser ‘helped secure a positive outcome to an incident, minimising the potential need for officers to deploy other, possibly more lethal technologies’.”