Crime - Bushman pleads for the use of Tasers everywhere
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann has spoken out in favor of the use of remote electro-pulse devices ("Tasers") in all federal states in view of violence against police officers such as during New Year's Eve riots. The FDP politician wrote to Berlin's Senator for Justice Felor Badenberg (non-party), who is currently Chairwoman of the Conference of Justice Ministers of the federal states, that the protection of emergency services under criminal law can already be adequately guaranteed today.
"It is necessary to apply these instruments consistently. Difficulties in identifying perpetrators cannot be solved by tightening criminal regulations," said Buschmann in the letter, which was first reported on Saturday by the "Tagesspiegel". It was also made available to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur.
Buschmann referred to the result of a review that the justice ministers of the federal states had requested following the riots on New Year's Eve/New Year's Day 2022/2023. As a result, he sees no need to tighten the law. "However, the best possible equipment for police officers undoubtedly contributes to the effective protection of emergency services," said Buschmann. Data surveys indicate that Tasers "have a preventative effect, which is why I would like to encourage the examination of a nationwide use in those federal states where this is not yet the case".
Rhineland-Palatinate was the first federal state to introduce Tasers at the end of 2018. The remote electro-pulse device is intended to enable police officers to keep an attacker at a distance - without the risk of fatal injury as with a firearm. The police officer shoots arrows connected to a wire from a distance of two to five meters. This is painful for the victim. The arrow penetrates one centimeter deep into the skin and emits an electrical impulse. The current affects the nerves and muscles, causing incapacitation for a few seconds.
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- In response to the New Year's Eve riots, Justice Minister Felor Badenberg of Rhineland-Palatinate received a letter from Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann, urging the consistent use of Tasers for police protection due to increasing criminality.
- Despite calls for tightening criminal regulations, Buschmann maintains that the existing law is sufficient and emphasizes the importance of robust equipment for police officers, such as Tasers, for effective emergency service protection.
- Following the riots, a review conducted by justice ministers of the federal states suggested that Tasers have a preventative effect and could potentially be utilized across all federal states.
- Participating in the Conference of Justice Ministers, Badenberg, currently the Chairwoman, will likely discuss the broader use of Tasers in federal states, such as Berlin, to mitigate violent disturbances like the New Year's Eve riots.
- As one of the first federal states to introduce Tasers in late 2018, Rhineland-Palatinate has demonstrated the potential of incorporating the remote electro-pulse devices into its operational force to contain escalating situations without resorting to lethal force.
Source: www.stern.de
