SVP politician wants to upgrade: transport police must arm themselves with Tasers

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Should the Swiss transport police be equipped with another weapon as an alternative to the pistol? This is what Vaud SVP National Councilor Michaël Buffat (44) is demanding. He submitted a proposal on Friday. He wants the police officers who patrol the trains to be allowed to use Tasers. Nowadays, the trained police officers on the train have an irritant spray, possibly restraints and a service pistol.

Minister of Transport Albert Rösti (56) opened the door to this new option on September 18. In response to a question from Buffat, Transport Minister Rösti said that the Federal Council “is prepared to re-evaluate the provision of this instrument to all or part of the transport police personnel for all or part of their duties.”

Rösti’s predecessor, SP councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (63), had not yet seen any urgency in this.

Paralyzed for five seconds

The SVP national councilor sees Buffat differently. “Members of the transport police reported this to me and a colleague. There is real demand.” Tasers incapacitate any attacker: an electric shock paralyzes the body for about five seconds without rendering the person unconscious.

“This is a good alternative to firearms,” assures Buffat. Firing a shot from a gun is virtually impossible in a closed public transport with many passengers.

According to the politician, the police cannot always respond adequately, especially in unclear situations where blunt objects or knives are used in a threatening manner.

Tasers are controversial

Only recently did the left in Lausanne’s parliament prevent city officials from being equipped with Tasers, as “24 Hours” reported. The Social Democratic Party pointed out that there are too few studies into the effects of Tasers on people with heart problems.

The introduction of electric shock weapons is always controversial: Amnesty International has also warned of serious injuries and even death in people under the influence of drugs or with certain previous diseases.

Been asking for years

Back in 2018, transport police demanded that Tasers be allowed to be used. Jürg Monhart, head of this law enforcement sector, told RTS at the time: “In my opinion, Tasers are necessary. Not because there are more cases of aggression, but because they are more serious. There are people armed with knives and it is imperative that we can tackle them with a Taser.”

Everything is a matter of ‘proportionality of resources’, Buffat Blick assures. “It’s not about shooting a drunk person on a train with a Taser. The transport police are trained to assess the situations and problems they encounter.”

Source:Blick