Amnesty urges caution on stun guns
15 June 2009, 03:23PM
© AI
Amnesty International Australia is extremely concerned by the recent announcement that the NSW State Government plans to distribute electro-shock weapons to all front line police officers from 1 July 2009. The news comes just days after a man died in Queensland a short time after police deployed a stun gun against him.
Released in December 2008, Amnesty International's report "Less than lethal?: The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement", documents our latest research into the use of electro-shock weapons or 'conducted energy devices' (CEDs) in North America.
The report contains findings of a review of deaths following the use of these weapons in the USA from June 2001 to 31 August 2008 – some 334 cases. A further 25 deaths have been associated with CEDs in Canada. To date, stun weapons have been linked to three deaths in Australia.
Amnesty International's sources include a review of autopsy reports in 98 cases, and other materials, including media reports, information from families of the deceased or their attorneys, reports of official investigations and other data.
In January 2009, Amnesty International sent copies of the report to all Police Ministers and commissioners across Australia and again said that the use of these devices by Australian law-enforcement officials should be limited to appropriately-trained officers and to life threatening situations, or suspended until a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the medical and other effects of the weapon is concluded.
We welcomed last year's report, released by the NSW Ombudsman, which called for a two year moratorium on any further roll out of stun guns for general policing, pending independent review. We were particularly alarmed by the report's finding that current NSW police standard operating procedures relating to stun gun use are inadequate. We also welcomed the Victorian Police Commissioner's decision in April this year to continue to limit the deployment of these devices.
Amnesty International acknowledges the importance of developing non-lethal force options by law enforcement agencies in order to avoid the danger of fatalities and serious injury inherent in the deployment of firearms or other impact weapons. However we continue to express our concerns about the use of stun weapons both in relation to their safety and potential for misuse.
Amnesty International's detailed recommendations can be located at the end of the report.
Read the report Less Than Lethal: The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement (PDF 1.3MB)
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