Bermuda Police will be issued with Taser devices amid fears they are being plunged into conflicts which could end up with a suspect being shot.

Public Safety Minister David Burch said he has approved the purchase of Tasers — which use electricity to temporarily incapacitate people — and that a phased approach for their implementation on the Island has been agreed.

They will initially be issued to firearm officers and later to specially trained units, the Minister told the Senate.

"There is a significant gap in the available range of less-lethal weapons that result in the Service being ill-equipped to deal with certain types of incidents," Sen. Burch said in a Ministerial Statement at the Senate yesterday.

"This gap could result in an officer justifiably shooting an individual with a firearm due to the unavailability of a suitable alternative option."

Sen. Burch said research showed less-lethal methods such as Captor spray would be ineffective, and that tests in the UK show Tasers have a very low risk of causing serious or life-threatening injury.

He said UK firearm officers have been using them since 2004, and the United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories' Firearms Working Group also supports issuing them.

"It is anticipated that the implementation of Taser will enable the Bermuda Police Service to more effectively deal with issues where persons are threatening the lives of others or themselves," he said.

However, Sen. Burch warned Government does not have a magic bullet to end gang activity.

"We cannot fix the gang issue overnight," he said. "We cannot turn bad to good overnight. Change can only happen if we each do our part."

He said Police now had more visible officers on foot patrols, particularly in densely populated areas, and reiterated that Government, Government House and Police are holding weekly meetings.

But he called for the public to do their bit, saying: "If we want — as we say we do — a peaceful, safe Country for our children and grandchildren; then we have to be willing to be witnesses.

"We have to be willing to identify wrong, to stand up and denounce evil. We have to be prepared to draw a line in the sand determining what we — as a community — will and will not accept.

"Our community is under siege because we didn't want to get involved — but it is past time to get involved."

Calling for parents to contact Government agencies if they need help, he added: "I urge all the residents of this Country to continue to stand firm in the face of this seemingly endless cycle of gun violence.

"Be assured that the Bermuda Police Service is resolute in wrestling back our communities 'one street at a time' to quote the new Commissioner."

Shadow Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley responded yesterday: "Tasers should be considered as another tool in the options that the Police can use in dealing with belligerent, fleeing or dangerous subjects.

"However we caution that officers must be properly trained to use the device and know when its use is appropriate.

"Tasing would be better than shooting someone in the first instance and less likely to precipitate an escalation and firefight but thankfully we have not progressed to this point yet. It appears that the gun violence is not directed at the Police at this point in time and we want to make sure this situation does not change.

"It should be noted that the use of tasers in other parts of the world has not been without some controversy in light of injury or death as a result.

"In addition there have been concerns raised on the impact tasing can have on an individual with a heart condition or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Thus training and the protocol for the use of tasers is critical to help avoid issues upon use."