Sheridan Robert D, Hepper Alan E
Counter-Terrorism and Security Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ, United Kingdom.
Platform Systems Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ, United Kingdom.
J Forensic Leg Med. 2022 Oct;91:102417. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102417. Epub 2022 Aug 13.
Conducted energy devices (CEDs) are designed to immobilise aggressive individuals through the application of an electrical discharge administered via probes fired at the subject. Although the discharge is intended to disrupt voluntary movement, CEDs have their limitations and several factors are qualitatively understood to adversely influence CED effectiveness. The introduction of the twin-cartridge TASER X2™ into UK policing in 2017 provided a unique opportunity to undertake a quantitative assessment of the factors modulating probe discharge effectiveness based on data reported by police officers firing the device operationally. The overall operational subdual effectiveness of the TASER X2™ was 68.5%. However, several factors were identified that could alter the likelihood of achieving subdual of the subject. The officer-reported data show that probe discharge was highly effective at subduing subjects when both probes had penetrated the skin, least effective when both probes were in clothing and confirmed the reduced effectiveness of narrow probe spreads. The most commonly cited reasons why probe discharge failed to subdue the subject were thick or loose clothing, probe misses and narrow probe spread. These findings, which are likely to generalise to other types of CED, may be used to inform tactics and training to optimise the likelihood of achieving incapacitation when probes are deployed, with benefits for the safety of both the police and the public. The findings may also assist investigations requiring the reconstruction of incidents in which probe discharge has been deployed.
导电能量装置（CEDs）旨在通过发射探针向目标对象施加放电来制服具有攻击性的个体。尽管这种放电旨在扰乱自主运动，但CEDs存在局限性，并且从定性角度了解到有几个因素会对CEDs的有效性产生不利影响。2017年双弹药筒泰瑟X2™在英国警务中的引入，提供了一个独特的机会，可根据实际操作该装置的警察报告的数据，对调节探针放电有效性的因素进行定量评估。泰瑟X2™的总体操作制服有效性为68.5%。然而，已确定了几个可能改变制服目标对象可能性的因素。警察报告的数据显示，当两个探针都穿透皮肤时，探针放电在制服目标对象方面非常有效；当两个探针都在衣物中时效果最差，并证实了较窄探针散布范围时有效性降低。探针放电未能制服目标对象的最常见原因是衣物厚或宽松、探针未命中以及探针散布范围窄。这些发现可能适用于其他类型的CED，可用于为战术和培训提供信息，以优化部署探针时实现 incapacitation 的可能性，对警察和公众的安全都有益处。这些发现还可能有助于需要重建已部署探针放电事件的调查。
