Welsh Labour Police Commissioner attacks Greens over proposal to stop police using Tasers

Martin Shipton

A Welsh Labour Police and Crime Commissioner launched an attack on the Green Party over a conference motion that would have banned police officers from using Tasers and pepper spray, if passed.

Andy Dunbobbin, the PCC for North Wales posted a message on social media that said: “Stripping officers of Tasers and pepper spray puts the police and also the public at risk.

“These are essential de-escalation tools. They keep frontline officers safe and protect the public from dangerous individuals.

“Disarming officers shows a complete disconnect from reality.”

The Times reported how the Greens’ policy proposal, put forward by an internal group, involved the party pledging to “withdraw lethal tools and tactics, eg Tasers, pepper spray” from police.

Police officers routinely carry Pava spray, known as pepper spray, as standard personal protective equipment. Only specially trained officers can carry Tasers, although their use is increasing. They are used by authorised frontline response or specialist firearms officers.

The policy document said the Greens should reduce reliance on police “with the aim of eliminating this reliance”. It calls for the party to adopt a position that would move money and investment away from “policing, prisons and surveillance”.

It also called for the scrapping of policy programmes that target specific communities and “over-police marginalised communities”, citing Prevent as an example of those it would axe. The counterterrorism programme is the UK Government’s controversial scheme to detect and intervene against individuals at risk of becoming radicalised.

Later the Green Party said the motion would not be presented as originally worded at their upcoming party conference, with reference to Tasers and pepper spray withdrawn.

The plans drew criticism from Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who described the Greens’ “latest madness” as a threat to public safety.

Party leader Zack Polanski responded in a post on social media, describing the claims as “misleading”.

He wrote: “In the Green Party, any member can propose a policy. It’s in our constitution, and members decide whether to debate it.

“So when the media presents that as the Green Party ‘proposing’ a policy, they’re misleading you. Worth asking why the billionaire press constantly attacks us.”

Tory MP Philp said: “The Greens care more about appeasing the anti-police far-left mob than supporting the police and catching criminals. It’s clear they are on the side of lawbreakers, not the law-abiding majority.

“The Green Party have shown themselves to be a disgrace and a danger to the public. They are certainly no longer the harmless badger and whale-loving party they were in the past.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said the Greens’ “proposals” were out of touch with the realities of modern policing and the vital work the police do every day, adding: “These plans would make it harder for the police to stop dangerous criminals and to protect the public from potential future terrorist attacks.”

Early draft

Responding to the reports, the Green Party said motions were at an early draft stage and the wording to conference had been amended to remove reference to banning tasers and pepper spray.

The party said more than 150 motions had been submitted ahead of its conference in Brighton in October, meaning not all of them would be debated.

A Green Party spokesperson said: “Conference is still weeks away and members have only just begun submitting motions.

“There is a prioritisation process, and not every motion submitted will be debated. Only motions passed by conference become Green Party policy.”

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