Dangerous People Out There

The leader of the Police Federation is demanding new toys for uniformed officers. The pretext, as always, is the Perpetual War Against Terror: the leader of the Police Federation appears to believe that fanatical suicide bombers will be deterred by the possibility of an electric shock from a taser, much as the Charlie Hebdo murderers were deterred by the presence of the armed police officer Ahmed Merabet. With all due respect for the Police Federation's understanding of terrorist culture, it seems likely that tasers would be of more use in deterring troublesome protesters, controlling unruly ethnics and perhaps in occasional displays of authority for the edification of potty-mouthed Cabinet ministers. A vote on the matter will take place next month; and the official induced-panic level for terroristic doings has been raised to Severe, just to concentrate their minds.