Perth firm makes electric rubber bullets
13:45 AEST Fri Jul 1 2005
AAP
Rioters could be in for a shock next time their behaviour gets out of hand, with an Australian company developing a rubber bullet which gives an electric shock.
Perth based Harrington Group is hoping its invention will help it crack what is known as the less lethal market, worth around $US500 million annually.
Less lethal law enforcement aims to control people without killing them.
It may be an occasional event in Australia but in other countries such as South Africa and Israel fatalities caused by police are a daily occurrence.
Harrington chief executive Marshall Couper said the market for electric rubber bullets was extensive.
"There are two to three riots around the world every day, whether they be prison riots in South America where you have massive overcrowding of prisons or there is a Ukrainian protest," he said.
"In Australia we tend not to fire bullets at teenagers that are just intoxicated but there is a call for them in certain circumstances, like the Sydney riots."
The electric rubber bullet builds on the rubber bullet, which is effective between 20 and 45 metres.
Any further than that and the bullet doesn't hurt.
The electric rubber bullet extends the range of effectiveness to 75 metres, delivering a shock on impact.
"The shock is not going to cause any damage, but it is like a heavy duty electric fence type of shock - you'll know you've been hit," Mr Couper said.
Extending the range of the bullet places law enforcers beyond the 55 metre mark, or the rock-throwing range, according to Mr Couper.
The Australian Stock Exchange-listed Harrington has just completed the first round of testing using US standard police issue guns.
The next stage is to trial the bullets with one division of the United States police volunteering, with the trial expected to be completed by the end of the year.
After that, rioters and boisterous party goers be warned.
