Germany to Equip Federal Police with Electric Shock Devices
The German Federal Minister of the Interior, Alexander Dobrindt, has announced plans to equip the federal police with electric shock devices, commonly known as Tasers. Dobrindt expressed conviction that the use of Tasers is essential and will ensure the necessary legal framework is in place by the end of the year.
The minister allocated funds for the procurement of the devices, known as Distanzelektroimpulsgeräte (DEIG). He emphasized that the Taser is a suitable tool to counter the increasing threat to police officers in public spaces, operating at the intersection between the baton as a close-range weapon and the pistol as a long-range one.
In situations where individuals attack federal police officers with sharp weapons, such as knives, the Taser can be used to more effectively subdue the attackers and protect the officers. The use of electric shock devices is already a common practice in the United States and several German federal states have been employing them in special task forces and regular patrols, including Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. A current study in North Rhine-Westphalia is examining the impact of Tasers on police operations.