Green Party to consider banning police from using Tasers and pepper spray – ‘madness!’
The Greens care more about appeasing an anti-police, far-left mob than supporting officers, Chris Philp says.
Zack Polanski’s party is mulling policy proposals ahead of its conference (Image: Getty)
Zack Polanski’s Green Party is set to discuss the removal of Tasers and pepper spray from the police. The Government’s counter-terror programme, Prevent, is also in the sights of some Greens, according to reports.
Other potential policy changes might see the Greens call for an end to police officers in schools and the closure of prisons. Documents seen by The Times are reported to show the ideas were being considered as part of the Greens’ formal policy process.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP dismissed the proposals as evidence of the party’s “latest madness”.
The Greens’ leader, Zack Polanski, wrote in response on social media: “In the Green Party, any member can propose a policy. It’s in our constitution, and members decide whether to debate it.
“So when the media presents that as the Green Party ‘proposing’ a policy, they’re misleading you. Worth asking why the billionaire press constantly attacks us.”
Mr Philp said: “The Greens care more about appeasing the anti-police far-left mob than supporting the police and catching criminals. It’s clear they are on the side of lawbreakers, not the law-abiding majority.
“The Green Party have shown themselves to be a disgrace and a danger to the public. They are certainly no longer the harmless badger and whale-loving party they were in the past.”
A Labour Party spokesman said the Greens’ “proposals” were out of touch with the realities of modern policing and the vital work the police do every day.
He added: “These plans would make it harder for the police to stop dangerous criminals and to protect the public from potential future terrorist attacks.”
Responding to the reports, the Green Party said motions were at an early draft stage and the wording was not yet finalised.
The party said more than 150 motions have been submitted ahead of its conference in Brighton in October, meaning it is unlikely all of them will be debated.
A Green Party spokesman said: “Conference is still weeks away and members have only just begun submitting motions.
“There is a prioritisation process, and not every motion submitted will be debated. Only motions passed by conference become Green Party policy.”
