So which one was Blind ....?

In the UK recently, the police used a Tazar gun to render a dangerous perp helpless in the street. This man, ruthlessly blind, taking a suspicious walk was found to be in possession of a ...er ..white stick.

A Tazar is a device authorised for used by the police in some situations as it is considered less lethal than a firearm. Such situations include the managment of dangerous people where projectile weapons are not involved. While some Tasers have a cattle prod mode involving direct contact but typically they fire twin electrical contacts at the target which once engaged with skin or clothing transmit an electrical charge that causes neuromuscular distress.

There are, of course,  rules to their use. They include things like the need to protect life and limb and a judgement around significant immenent danger. The perceived danger in this case was the fear that the blind gentleman was wielding a weapon assumed to be a samurai sword or similar. In fact the poor man was walking, as many blind people in the UK do with the aid of a white stick.  This is white for a reason. It is a signal to those who can see, that the user is blind and that a little consideration is required.

Cork Monkey thinks the minister for cockups needs to ensure Tazer user have better training  or, in these times of budgetary restraint perhaps we could, at the very least,  run to a colour wallchart ....S...is... for ....Sword anyone?

CM