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Police have seized a high-powered stun gun disguised as a smartphone from a teenager in east London.
Operated by pressing a button on the side of the device, the “Taser phones” can disable victims with an electrical charge. Police fear the stun guns – marketed as personal protection devices – are becoming criminals’ weapon of choice.
Officers seized the stun gun on Wednesday at 7.50pm in Edison Close, Walthamstow. Made to look like an iPhone, the stun gun has two electrodes at the top of the smartphone which creates the shock.
Police arrested a 17-year-old for possession of an offensive weapon and have bailed him until late June.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Male arrested in E17 by <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTeam?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-46241-https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTeam?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#BTeam</a> officers after he was found in possession of this 'Taser phone' <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/IHVmLofmkT" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-46241-http://t.co/IHVmLofmkT" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/IHVmLofmkT</a>— Waltham Forest MPS (@MPSWForest) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MPSWForest/status/599107078494519297" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-46241-https://twitter.com/MPSWForest/status/599107078494519297" data-vars-event-id="c23">May 15, 2015</a>
In 2012 police estimated at least 10,000 such devices, which can be bought for as little as £15, were in circulation on Britain’s streets. The slightest touch against a target is enough to deliver the charge, either direct on to skin or through clothing.
