Taser concerns

Your coverage of police use of a Taser in Broxburn ("Police shock man into submission before arrest for violence", 24 May) states that "Scottish ministers have no power to issue guidance on the use of firearms, including Tasers, since the matter is reserved".

Yet in 1999 the Westminster parliament passed an order which explicitly passed control over firearms policy to Scottish ministers (SI 1999 1750, if readers wish to search online). So while the ability to make laws on firearms remains with Westminster, responsibility for oversight and delivery of the existing legislation lies squarely with the Scottish Government.

This is one part of our legal analysis, which concludes that the Strathclyde Taser pilot is unlawful and which has been sent to the Scottish Government. We are awaiting a response.

JOHN WATSON

Programme director Scotland, Amnesty International

Haymarket Terrace

Edinburgh