Law enforcement officers should be subjected to electrical incapacitation.
The German federal government has taken a significant step towards modernizing its law enforcement practices by passing a bill that allows federal police officers to carry and use Tasers nationwide. This move, expected to be approved by the Cabinet soon, is part of a new draft law that aims to enhance non-lethal force options for federal police officers.
The funding for the purchase of Taser devices is set at 5 million euros annually, starting from 2025. This initial procurement will consist of 10,000 devices, with the potential for increases if necessary. The bill emphasizes the preventive effect of Tasers in a graduated approach to the use of immediate force.
Tasers, which cause painful muscle contractions and usually render a person incapacitated, are considered a possible alternative to physical weapons like batons or knives. They are seen as a significant shift towards greater adoption of non-lethal methods, aligning with a broader trend in law enforcement to reduce reliance on firearms and minimize injuries during interventions.
The bill also states that law enforcement officers should have all means of deployment and leadership to act effectively and proportionately. The use of firearms should always be the last resort, according to the bill. However, the exact policy revisions have yet to be fully detailed publicly, and no direct sources provide explicit details on the current use of force policy amendments tied to this Taser expansion beyond the confirmation of the draft law permitting Tasers for federal police.
The bill does not specify any restrictions or conditions on the use of Tasers by law enforcement officers. While the use of Tasers is controversial due to potential health consequences, particularly for people with heart conditions or circulatory problems, the emphasis on controlled and proportionate force, oversight mechanisms, and adequate training aims to mitigate these concerns.
The costs of implementing this change are not specified in the given information. The draft law establishes clear rules on when and how Tasers can be used, ensuring officers are adequately trained on the technology and legal boundaries. This also reflects ongoing discussions in Germany and other countries about modernizing police use of force in line with human rights and operational effectiveness.
The funding for procuring 10,000 Taser devices, a type of gadget, begins in 2025 with an annual budget of 5 million euros. This technology is part of a broader trend, aiming to reduce law enforcement's reliance on firearms and minimize injuries during interventions, providing a possible alternative to physical weapons like batons or knives.
