Man tasered during arrest in the presence of a child – Greater Manchester Police, May 2020

Yes

GMP accepts the below recommendations made following this IOPC independent investigation;

GMP no longer use the Conductive Energy Device (Taser) Policy and have written a new TASER Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which is awaiting sign off by the Armed Policing Lead. The new TASER SOP is aligned to the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on CED (Conductive Energy Device). In the interim before the TASER SOP is signed off, GMP use of TASER is guided by the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice.

In regard to the IOPC recommendation on circumstances for the use of Taser, the GMP Taser SOP has used the wording from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice with regard to circumstances when Taser is used and is published in the GMP Taser SOP as follows:

TASER is one of a number of tactical options available when dealing with an incident with the potential for conflict.

GMP has now commenced Forcewide ‘scrutiny panels’ where community representatives review and challenge use of force, including CED (Taser). This is being led by GMPs Head of Professions for Neighbourhood Confidence and Equalities team and is part of a wider community engagement strategy.   

Yes

Gary Wedge who is the Taser curriculum lead at the College of Policing has re-written the J3 module "Dealing with Vulnerable People" to include the learning from this incident and therefore fully adopting the IOPC recommendation. 

This new module will be released nationally in March for adoption from 1st April 2022 and will feature in both initial and refresher courses. GMP will adopt the College of Policing curriculum changes in line with other forces on 1st April 2022.
 

Yes

The new Standard Operating Procedure which is awaiting final sign off does now include a section making it clear when it might be appropriate to use Taser in an environment where there are risk factors.  This is in line with the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice.  These risk factors include, but are not limited to:

•    head injuries from unsupported falls
•    repeated and/or prolonged application of discharge
•    avoidance of sensitive areas (primarily head, neck or genitalia)
•    certain pre-existing medical conditions
•    positional asphyxia
•    subjects already restrained
•    acute behavioural disturbance
•    vulnerable people
•    children and thin adults
•    flammable material (eg, petrol, CS irritant spray)
•    explosive environments (eg, petrol vapour, propane, natural gas).

Officers need to consider article 2 European Convention on Human Rights and make use of the National Decision Model when considering the above factors. 

All use of TASER must be documented on a Use of Force form unless subject to PIP in which case a Use of Force form should be completed after Stage 4 accounts have been provided. 

Yes

Since 2020 all Specially Trained Officers (STO's) attending both the initial and refresher taser course in GMP watch a film produced by GMP's Corporate Communications Branch which was produced with the support of BAPA (Black and Asian Police Association). The film is designed to give officers a perspective of other diverse cultures, explores disproportionality, use of force including Taser and considers perspectives of police tactics from members of the public. 

This recommendation has been subject to discussion at the PSB Organisational Learning Board chaired by the Head of PSB, the Force Strategic Organisational Learning Board chaired by the Deputy Chief Constable and the Force Diversity Equality and Inclusion Board chaired by the Chief Constable. The Head of PSB has also met with the chair of the GMP Black and Asian Police Association and other executive members of the Executive Board. Their recommendation was that the Force should consider engaging with a prominent individual who has worked with the Metropolitan Police Service on similar projects and is seen as an expert in this area.

As a result of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Board held on 31/1/22 actions were allocated as follows :
To the Director of people and Development - Consider this IOPC recommendation from a Force Training perspective. Consider the engagement of a prominent individual who has worked with the Metropolitan Police Service to assist. Design a Force Training Response to this recommendation and deliver via the Force Training Commissioning Group.

To the Director of Strategic Resourcing - Consider this IOPC recommendation from a Force Recruitment perspective and how future changes to the GMP recruitment process can bring about improvements in this area.     
These actions will be tracked via the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Board.

The Head of Profession for GMP's Neighbourhood, Confidence and Equality Team has also been engaged and is considering an appropriate long term piece of work in identified communities.

Yours sincerely

Detective Chief Superintendent Chadwick

Professional Standards Branch.

Yes

I write on behalf of the College of Policing (the College) in relation to the recommendation made under Paragraph 28A of Schedule 3 to the Police Reform Act 2002 to the College dated the 17th December 2021.

Your recommendation states:

The IOPC recommends that the College of Policing include a learning point in national training for officers equipped with Taser, in relation to considerations when a child is present during an incident where Taser is used. This is to enable officers to consider the potential impact on the child, together with alternative tactics as part of the overall risk assessment and National Decision Model in a training environment.

I understand a similar recommendation has been made to Greater Manchester Police in respect of local training.

The College is the independent professional body supporting everyone working in policing to reduce crime and keep people safe. The College has three complimentary functions;
• Sharing knowledge and good practice: creating and maintaining easy access to knowledge, disseminating good practice, and facilitating the sharing of what works
• Setting standards: setting standards for key areas of policing which help forces and individuals provide consistency and better service for the public
• Supporting professional development: setting requirements, accrediting, quality assuring and delivering learning and professional development, promoting diversity and wellbeing, and helping to nurture and select leaders at all levels.
As set out in the Code of Practice on Armed Policing and Police use of Less Lethal Weapons 2020, the College produces a national curriculum, and associated learning products, for specially trained officers (Taser trained officers). These products are subject to review by the College in order to ensure that organisational learning is appropriately reflected. Chief officers must ensure that the selection, training and accreditation of officers identified within the Code meets the requirements of the curriculum.

Having considered your recommendation as part of the current review, module J3 of the curriculum, and its associated learning products, has been revised and now includes the considerations and potential implications of Taser use in the presence of a child. 

All of the updated training material is scheduled to be launched in early March 2022 and disseminated to all UK police forces (including Greater Manchester Police), with a view to being implemented in the new training new commencing 1st April 2022.

The College is committed to continuing our work with forces, the NPCC and other agencies to maintain high standards in respect of the police use of Taser. I would like to thank you for bringing this recommendation to my attention.

I trust this letter meets the requirements of Paragraph 28B of Schedule 3 of the Police Reform Act 2002. 

I have no concerns in relation to publication of my response.

Yours sincerely 
Chief Constable Andy Marsh QPM 
Chief Executive Officer
College of Policing