Tasers and Political influence from outside sources (FOI)

Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by Government of Jersey on behalf of the States Greffe and published on 11 November 2020.
Prepared internally, no external costs.

Request

Under the Freedom of Information legislation I would like to request the following information: 

A

Have there been any studies taken to examine whether any political, commercial party’s or Individuals (both on Island and off Island) hold or have any influence with political party’s or individuals on Island. For example, the Chief Executive worked with Mr. ABC on the mainland, so Mr. ABC could have influence over the chief executives’ decisions

B

If there haven’t been any studies why not? 

C

In all Likelihood more police officers will be receiving Tasers, have there been any psychological studies conducted on the police, to determine whether they feel they are losing their ability to act based on the public’s emotions, eg the police don’t care about your emotions we will just taser you.

D

If not why?

Response

A and B

The States Greffe does not hold information in relation to these two questions.

C and D

Information not held. The States of Jersey police do not hold information regarding worldwide psychological studies undertaken to assess police responses to threats.

No doubt studies will have been undertaken. The UK College of Policing has produced the Conflict Resolution Model, which includes a section on ‘Developing the evidential base’. This will have drawn reference from previous instances of police officers dealing with conflict situations, including the full range of human emotions officers are faced with on a daily basis.

All police officers in Jersey undergo regular training following the National Conflict Resolution Model.

The model ensures officers consider a range of options from verbal communication through a number of stages, before the use of force is considered. The communication advice is detailed and includes:

• giving people a ‘voice’, letting them tell their side of the story, and listening

• making impartial decisions and explaining how they were reached

• showing trustworthiness by being open and honest

• treating people with dignity and respect

The model is complex and lengthy and can be read in full at: www.college.police.uk  

Exemption applied

Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

This response has been issued on behalf of the States Greffe. The States Greffe is responsible for the information held by (and on behalf of) both itself and the States Assembly.  Neither the States Assembly nor the States Greffe form part of the Government of Jersey and the Government was not involved either in the examination and retrieval of any information required for this response, nor in the drafting of the response itself.​​