BMH UK: 'Ban Taser firearms against mental health patients'

Human rights campaigns group Black Mental Health UK (BMH UK) have launched a new Change.org petition as part of their drive to secure an outright ban on the illicit use of Taser firearms against patients detained in locked psychiatric wards.

The unethical deployment of these stun guns in hospital settings will be among the issues discussed during report stage on the Policing and Crime Bill that will take place in the House of Lords in December.

This move comes on the back of cross party support for an amendment banning these fire arms in hospitals tabled by Liberal Democrat Health's spokesperson Baroness Joan Warmsley and backed by Labour's shadow health minister Lord Andrew Rosser and one of the most senior politicians from the UK's African Caribbean community Lord Herman Ouseley after they were briefed by BMH UK.

The backing of BMH UK's campaign demands by two major political parties on this issue is an indication of the growing support there is to bring an end to this questionable practice.

The Government has responded to calls for a ban of these firearms against detained patients by stating that local police and crime commissioners, chief constables and the chairs of local mental health crisis care concordat partnerships are the agencies responsible for identifying and scrutinising any use of Taser in mental health settings.

BMH UK are calling on those who want to add their support to this campaign to add their name to our online petition calling for an outright ban on the deployment of Taser firearms against patients detained on locked psychiatric wards in order to ensure that this human rights abuse is brought to an end.

Matilda MacAttram director of Black Mental Health UK (BMH UK ) said:

People who have been detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act are recognised by the state to be a vulnerable group, they should not be subject to Taser, this is a clear indication that clinical needs are being met with a forensic response, this is not right. Our work has shattered the silence on an illicit practice that has been happening for almost 10 years now: The unequal power balance between those subject to such treatment and statutory providers and the police has silenced public debate around this issue until, BMH UK's launched this campaign to ban Taser firearms in hospitals."

Experts from the United Nations (UN) committee against torture stated in their final country report of the UK back in 2013, that Taser firearms are inadmissible in a place where there is a deprivation of liberty.

Allowing the use of police firearms against vulnerable people who are held in locked psychiatric settings is a clear violation of their human rights and it must stop.

Those who want to support this campaign should sign their petition calling for a complete ban on Taser firearms in detained psychiatric settings, and to tweet this petition using the hashtag ban#taser.'

OBV Staff reporter

https://www.change.org/p/bmh-uk-campaign-ban-taser-firearms-against-detained-mental-health-patients-ban-taser