Inquiry call over Tasers

A HUMAN rights group has called for a "thorough evaluation" of the use of Taser stun guns by police, after branding a six-month pilot scheme in Strathclyde "unlawful".

A day after the trial ended, Amnesty International has demanded an inquiry and called on the Scottish Government to take control.

John Watson, its Scottish programme director, said: "The Firearms Act clearly states that new police deployments of Taser must have written authorisation from government ministers.

"And court judgments have made it clear that police use of Tasers must be bound by an appropriate legal and administrative framework. Alas, Strathclyde Police do not want to be bound by these controls and the Scottish Government are failing to exercise them."