German police officers will be allowed to use Tasers nationwide after the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, passed a legal amendment late on Thursday, reported dpa.
The law explicitly permits officers to deploy Tasers alongside standard batons and firearms.
Tasers are designed to deliver electric shocks from a distance, causing painful muscle contractions that temporarily incapacitate the target.
"Tasers give police officers an effective and proportionate way to respond to dangerous situations," State Secretary of the Interior Christoph de Vries said.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to acquire 10,000 devices over the coming years.
The devices remain controversial, as their use can pose health risks, particularly for people with heart or circulatory conditions.
- Germany
- Approves
- Taser use
- Police
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
