NSW Ombudsman calls for review the use of Taser weapons
20 November 2008, 03:57PM
In his report handed to Parliament yesterday, NSW Ombudsman Bruce Barbour calls for a 2 year review of the use of electroshock weapons such as Tasers by NSW police forces.
Tasers are dart-firing electro-shock weapons which upon connection discharge a 50,000 volt electro shock into the target. They were first introduced to Australian police forces in 1999.
In his report, the NSW Ombudsman calls for: - a further two year review of Taser use by an independent authority. - the review to be conducted prior rolling out Tasers to general duties officers until the review is conducted. - further education training on the use of Tasers. - the development of Taser specific standard operating procedures.
The report also made public the death of 56 year old man in NSW in 2002, who had been subject to a taser application 12 days earlier. The report noted that it was unclear why the police record relating to the death did not mention that the man had been tasered.
Amnesty International Australia welcomes the report, in particular the recommendation for a two year independent review. Amnesty International Australia is concerned about tasers being used as a routine force tool rather than a measure of last resort. Amnesty International has documented over 290 deaths of people in North America since 2001 connected with the use of tasers.
The use of tasers by Australian law-enforcement officials should be suspended until a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the medical and other effects of the weapon is concluded.
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Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.
Louisa Mckimm
28 November 2008, 09:53AM
Michael, I can completely understand what you are saying. However as someone with a cousin who has aspergers syndrome, who has been stopped and searched twice in the past three months, just walking down the street I worry about the use of taser weapons.Particularly when he becomes frightened or is unresponsive and starts running away and misunderstandings occur. As for your example of the ice addict I’d rather first focus like you said on another response, getting rid of the drug itself than introducing taser weapons into the armoury available to police. I welcome the ombudsmen’s review of taser weapons and hope he develops some more appropriate solutions to the reasons for tasers’ introduction.
Michael Wild
27 November 2008, 01:32AM
I’m an AI member, psychologist, father of an autistic youth and train people who face violence at work. I think we need to get real. “Why wasn’t a health professional called?” Sean, mental health workers are thin on the ground. Aggressive young men won’t wait for the health worker to come and do their magic. Louisa can’t “imagine a situation when the use of it (taser’s) is ever justified.” Her imagination is truly feeble. An angry ice head about to assault someone with a broken bottle comes to my mind all too easily. AI is right: weapons should be the last not first response. But we need hard heads as well as soft hearts. This means accepting the unpalatable fact that in police work the use of force is sometimes unavoidable and appropriate. It’s a pity some oh-so-nice human rights activists don’t. Such ideological blinkers only make it easier for rednecks and the few unprofessional police who’d tazer all too quickly because it makes them feel powerful.
Louisa Mckimm
21 November 2008, 03:00PM
What I am concerned with is the subjective use of the taser gun. Are there regulations as to when they should be used and on whom? This is really essential if they are ever used. Otherwise electric shock torture may become commonplace on NSW streets, given the ever increasing powers of on the beat policemen.
BOB Freeman
21 November 2008, 02:52PM
“This man who was tasered was mentally ill. The police claim he threatened them with a ‘frypan’. Why were no health professionals called to deal with this situation. In circumstances like this the only witnesses are usually the police. We seldom hear the other side. Taser weapons are an extremely powerful electric shock causing unbearable pain. Electric shock torture is really what it is. “
I completley agree. This is a verry painful tool and i do not believe it was acceptable in this situation. an you mentioned this man obviousley needed help. Another alternative to what the police took would of worked much better
Sean Kenan
20 November 2008, 09:53PM
Good point Louisa. Perhaps police will find a place for tasers use at ‘demonstrations’. Tasers are routinely at protests in the USA. These so-called ‘non-lethal’ weapons also give the officer the ability to issue multiple shocks and it is here also that the torture aspect must be raised. When the taser is demonstrated for the Press the volunteer is held upright by two assistants to avoid the rigid body of the victim from crashing to the concrete. Also multiple shocks are never used at these public relations events that are staged to show how ‘safe’ the weapon is. The other concern is no visible signs of the tasering are visible except from two points where the darts enter the flesh. Electric torture also leaves no marks on the victim. Excruciating suffering from electric torture can do terrible damage to a person and the fact there is ‘no evidence’ cannot be used to justify this insidious torture method. I am heartened Amnesty is discussing this issue.
Louisa Mckimm
20 November 2008, 07:37PM
Even if there is a review of the use of taser guns it is hard to imagine when use of them is ever justified. What if they are employed following a misunderstanding between the police and a civilian? What circumstances are they intended to be used in?
Sean Kenan
20 November 2008, 06:19PM
This man who was tasered was mentally ill. The police claim he threatened them with a ‘frypan’. Why were no health professionals called to deal with this situation. In circumstances like this the only witnesses are usually the police. We seldom hear the other side. Taser weapons are an extremely powerful electric shock causing unbearable pain. Electric shock torture is really what it is.
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