Is £800 a fair price for a Taser?

I note that the Government have bought 5,000 Tasers for use by frontline police officers in England and Wales, as part of a programme whereby 10,000 will be provided in total. The cost? £4 million.

I admit that I remain unconvinced that such weapons form part of an effective policing strategy. Whilst human beings are not designed to be submitted to high voltage electric charges, and anyone given a weapon is more likely to use it, regardless of training, this resembles an accident waiting to happen.

It is, however, part of a progression towards greater militarisation of the police in this country, whereby weapons and technology are utilised to make up for a lack of numbers at the sharp end, on the street. And yet despite this, people don't feel any safer. Indeed, the fear of being attacked is now bolstered by the risk that you might get stunned by a Taser-wielding police officer.

The only real answer is a return to visible policing, and whilst the move towards ward-based policing is a step forward, I remain unconvinced that their profile within the community is any better. The public feel reassured when they see police officers in areas where they feel otherwise vulnerable. I accept that in this era of 'time and motion' led efficiencies that it might not produce tangible gains, but the intangible ones are equally valuable, i.e. greater freedom to move around your community or greater usage of public transport, to take just two examples.

Sadly, though, it looks like Tasers are here to stay. We can only hope that there aren't too many innocent victims whilst police officers familiarise themselves with their use...