Grave concerns on stun weapons
18 June 2009, 05:01PM
Amnesty International is extremely concerned by reports that a man who died last week following an incident in Brandon, Queensland, may have been shocked up to 28 times by police with a 50,000 volt stun gun.
“Amnesty International has ongoing concerns relating to the use of stun weapons and maintains that these devices are inherently open to abuse, as they are easy to carry, easy to use, and can inflict severe pain at the push of a button, without leaving substantial marks,” said Amnesty International spokesperson Katie Wood.
The Queensland Police Service’s own statement shows that the preliminary information obtained from the stun gun suggests the weapon “operated on 28 separate cycles during the course of this matter”. Queensland Police has launched an investigation into the incident. A coronial inquiry is also underway.
Amnesty International believes that if it is proven that the weapon was administered against the victim over the course of 28 separate cycles, this would constitute gross misuse and call into question the adequacy of training provided to the officer concerned.
In December 2008, Amnesty International released the report Less than lethal?: The use of stun weapons in US law enforcement, which cited the US Justice Department’s recommendations “that one standard cycle (a full five seconds) is often unnecessary to achieve compliance”. Amnesty International’s report recommends that officers should be trained to apply only one shock of five seconds or less.
In January 2009, Amnesty International distributed a copy of the report to all Police Ministers and Commissioners across Australia. In an accompanying letter, the organisation urged them to limit the use of the weapons to appropriately-trained officers, and to life threatening situations, or suspend the weapons until a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the medical and other effects of the weapons is concluded.
Amnesty International welcomes news that as a result of information obtained in the investigation into the incident in Brandon, on 15 June 2009 Queensland Police Minister Neil Roberts and Commissioner Bob Atkinson suspended the rollout of stun guns and ordered a Crime and Misconduct Commission review of policy and training relating to the use of the weapons.
The organisation strongly urges the NSW government to stop its plans to begin distributing stun weapons to all frontline officers from 1 July, 2009, and heed the NSW Ombudsman’s recommendations from December 2008, which included:
- A further two year review of stun weapon use by an independent authority.
- The review to be conducted prior to rolling out stun weapons to general duties officers.
- Further education and training on the use of stun weapons.
- The development of specific standard operating procedures relating to the use of stun weapons.
In April 2009 Amnesty International welcomed the announcement by Victoria Police Commissioner, Simon Overland, that Victoria Police will retain only limited use of stun guns, rather than distributing the weapons to all frontline officers.
Features and analysis
Childbirth in Sierra Leone
Many women in Sierra Leone spend the final months of pregnancy and agonising hours of childbirth fearing for their lives.
Harming Children
Professor Louise Newman explains how detaining children on Christmas Island is likely to affect their mental health.
“Intervention” walk-off
Three hundred people have walked away from their homes to protest the effects of the Northern Territory Emergency Response.
These features are taken from our Human Rights Defender magazine - subscribe free now
By Category
By month
Make an impact
You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.
Check out what 109,038 people are doing right now to support human rights.
Stay Informed
Get Involved
Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.
Sitewide information
- Copyright © Amnesty International Australia
- ABN: 640 0280 6233
- Phone: 1300 300 920
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.
Jenny
23 June 2009, 01:29PM
There are three issues in this case: the first is the underfunding of mental health; the second is the apparent “outsourcing” of mental health to the police force.
The first means that socially/economically disadvantaged people with a mental illness are especially vulnerable - when they most need help, they are not in a position to think of the consequences of their actions. (I’m told that one has to do something drastic in order to be admitted to hospital)
The second issue is the role of the police force. Like most professionals, police officers have a certain level of training in dealing with a variety of situations but they should not be expected to perform at a level expected of a psychiatrist.
The third (but most important) issue is of human dignity: the current situation does not take that into consideration. It is about expediency and economy. And that has already cost too many lives, and has demeaned the rest of us.
Kurt
22 June 2009, 10:01PM
its been used in Canada for sometime. I puzzled why the deadly statistics there or in the states for that matter were considered satisfactory for the Australian public. HUMAN RIGHTS. You are civil servants employed to protect us not to kill us.
Bill
22 June 2009, 05:05PM
another step to the new world order ...lol
jack
21 June 2009, 05:26PM
bahaha dont break the law and you wont be tazered, simple!!! bahahaha nsw cops r still getting tazers rollingggggg out next month bahahaha
leon
20 June 2009, 12:02AM
Electric Shock by Tazer provides a powerful long lasting ‘belt’and would be considered unsafe and cruel if used in place of a cattle prod on animals. It is absolutely amazing that we even need to debate this ‘cruel and unusual punishment’. Our leaders cannot even somehow spin and connect with the never ending war on terror. It is terror.
Clinton
19 June 2009, 06:19PM
The usage of stun guns by police officers is a disgusting violation of the UN declaration of human rights. It constitutes a form of torture, to be administered by police as they please. If it is illegal for Australian courts to issue torture and capital punishment, why are police given such powers over life and death? The rights of a citizen compared to the right for a law enforcer to bear arms are grossly imbalanced. With so many deaths as a result of taser usage, the “other possible causes” defence is despicable. I can only wonder how long it will take until police are handed compactable electric chairs; just in case the offender’s heart is still beating.
Page 1 of 1 pages