Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

UK police risk ‘eroding public confidence’, watchdog warns after report finds black people more likely to be tasered for longer

UK police risk ‘eroding public confidence’, watchdog warns after report finds black people more likely to be tasered for longer

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has warned that the use of tasers by UK police risks “eroding public confidence” after a review revealed black people are more likely to be tasered longer than white individuals.

In a report released on Wednesday, the IOPC highlighted a racial disparity in the use of tasers by British police officers on suspects, calling for clearer guidance and improvements in training to prevent the force from “eroding public confidence.”

The IOPC examined some of the most serious cases of taser use by UK police between 2015 and 2020, finding that black people were more likely to be subjected to taser use by cops for a prolonged period of time than their white counterparts.

"Ultimately, policing has to change and be more responsive to community concern or risk losing legitimacy in the eyes of the public."


While the police watchdog did defend the use of tasers in the field on the whole as “a valuable tool for keeping both the public and police safe in dangerous circumstances,” the IOPC stated that “forces must also respond to the disproportionate use of Tasers against Black people.”

Among the 17 recommendations made to UK authorities, the IOPC called for clearer guidance on when and how a taser should be used, as well as increased scrutiny and monitoring of instances where it has been deployed on a suspect.

Responding to the report on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi criticised the report for being “vague” and not based on “substantive evidence,” as it only examined 101 cases of taser use out of the 94,045 that occurred within the five years reviewed.


While UK police officers are usually not armed, they do often carry tasers, with the number deployed increasing in recent years. Incidents of taser use by cops in the UK doubled to around 32,000 in the year 2019-20, compared with two years prior.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×