Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
False
News & media
Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
Debate current medical affairs
The police in the UK are trialling a new shoulder mounted laser called the SMU 100 that can emit a wall of light as farway as 3 square metres, to stop rioters etc in their tracks. It was developed by
0
Cat:OffDutyForum:NewsMedia
Cat:OffDutyForum:NewsMediaDiscussion:d0ce548f-3158-4a68-8afc-adaceb08ca46
Forums » Off duty » News & media » Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
|
Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
posted at 13/12/2011 10:57 AM GMT
on bmj.com
|
|
*Moderator*
Posts: 1451
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
The police in the UK are trialling a new shoulder mounted laser called the SMU 100 that can emit a wall of light as farway as 3 square metres, to stop rioters etc in their tracks. It was developed by an ex commando and costs £25,000 and Paul Kerr, of Photonic Security Systems, the UK-based firm which developed the laser, said the effect was like looking into a low sun on a bright winter day. He added: “It is horrible. It makes you look away.” What would be the possible health implications of this? Is a temporary blinding likely to cause long term damage?
|
|
|
Re: Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
posted at 13/12/2011 2:24 PM GMT
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 2060
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 24/5/2013 |
I thought, oh come on, laser light has a single wavelength, so that it should be easy to design protective goggles. Indeed I and many other theatre staff must wear such goggles when the surgeon wields his 'laser scalpel'. But is this a "supercontinuum" laser, a 'white' laser that radiates across a wide spectrum? If so, you can buy your own! Only $15,000: http://search.newport.com/?x2=sku&q2=M-SCG-MT-KT Clearly the SMU100 has other applications: http://www.mss-at.com/en/pss-smu100-laser-dazzler-deterrence-system.html But that says of the device that "At 500m it can project a 4m wide beam" That's about the width of one carriage way, so you would have to scan it across the revolting people, and in the smokey air of a riot, you would see it coming and close your eyes. Closer and the beam would be smaller, and more powerful. The weaponeer would need to be up front and vulnerable. OR, if he was screened by a rank fo ruiot mpolice, they would need batons and sheilds that will not reflect the bema back inot their eyes. This would be an excellent excuse for removing ID badges and badges of rank! Quite apart from the potential for injury, agressive means of subduing a riot have been universally useless, from the CRS during "les evennement du Mai (1969)" to the recent ones in Greece and the Arab world. Tear gas, batons, either hand or gun propelled, do not deter. Not even shooting them; Syria. People run away and live to riot another day. Tough action is required to put down a riot, but like an invasion it requires boots on the ground, not air supremeacy. The 'bobby on the street' in riot gear or Dixon of Dock Green helmet is what calms things down. John John |
|
|
Re: Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
posted at 13/12/2011 9:03 PM GMT
on bmj.com
|
Posts: 963
First: 15/7/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
What about Tasers generally?, I mean the ones where Police shoot barbs into a person then discharge a shock through them. I am actually in favour of them as a less lethal form of incapacitating a person. I just read that Tasers have been used (i.e. discharged) about 2185 times in the UK in the past 10 years without (to my knowledge) causing death. I am aware of subsequent deaths but none dsirectly attributable to a taser. Interestingly the Tasers have been drawn but not discharged on 8599 times - just drawing the Taser gun and threatening to use it can be very effective. Does anyone know of an Medical Papers/research into use of tasers either in the UK or USA?. |
|
|
Re: Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
posted at 14/12/2011 9:38 AM GMT
on bmj.com
|
|
Posts: 2060
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Re tasers, I agree, Oddyseus that I would rather anyone was tasered than shot, but the police seem poorly trained. Vide the man with epilepsy, fitting, who was tasered, and that the police have accepted that they need more training in at least this aspect. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/tasers-police-epilepsy When combined with the death of Ian Tomlinson, the idea of more agressive technology and methods in the hands of poorly trained police is not reassuring, however safely they can be used. JOhn |
|
|
Re: Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
posted at 14/12/2011 10:17 AM GMT
on bmj.com
|
|
*Moderator*
Posts: 1451
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
BMJ had an Editorial on the 'Medical implications of the Taser' http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c853 And there have been other articles on repellents the police use: Is CS gas dangerous? http://www.bmj.com/content/320/7233/458 Clinical Review on 'Managing the effects of tear gas'. http://www.bmj.com/content/338/bmj.b2283.full In Response to Re: Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?: What about Tasers generally?, I mean the ones where Police shoot barbs into a person then discharge a shock through them. I am actually in favour of them as a less lethal form of incapacitating a person. I just read that Tasers have been used (i.e. discharged) about 2185 times in the UK in the past 10 years without (to my knowledge) causing death. I am aware of subsequent deaths but none dsirectly attributable to a taser. Interestingly the Tasers have been drawn but not discharged on 8599 times - just drawing the Taser gun and threatening to use it can be very effective. Does anyone know of an Medical Papers/research into use of tasers either in the UK or USA?. Posted by kirked |
Forums » Off duty » News & media » Police taser that temporarily blinds - what harm can it do?
