The Children’s Rights Alliance for England, which is part of Just for Kids Law, is seriously concerned about the authorisation of Taser 10 – a more powerful model of Taser now approved for police use on children. Taser 10 fires heavier barbs at greater velocity than earlier models. Unlike its predecessors, it requires skin penetration to work, increasing the risk of serious injury. The independent body who advises government on less lethal weapons, SACMILL, has concluded that these risks are particularly acute for children, who are smaller in stature, have thinner skin, and less body wall-to-organ distance. We also know that children’s clothing, often lighter and less protective, may also make full barb penetration more likely. There is a real risk that officers may aim for the head or neck to ensure contact. We welcome the removal of the widely criticised “drive-stun” mode from this model — but that alone is not sufficient. Despite repeated calls from CRAE, the National Taser Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSTAG), and alongside a recommendation by SACMILL, to our knowledge, no Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been conducted and published. CRIAs are an important tool to help ensure that the UK Government complies with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are calling for: ❌ Immediate suspension of Taser 10 authorisation 📄 A robust, independent CRIA to be conducted and published ⚖️ A strong legal presumption against Taser use on under-18s 🧠 Enhanced police training on the specific risks posed to children 📊 Mandatory collection and publication of disaggregated data, including age, ethnicity, disability, mental health status, and outcome Children are not mini adults. Decisions around police equipment and tactics must be subject to rigorous scrutiny for their impact on children’s safety and rights. 📘 Read our full statement: (fb)

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