USA taser death stats getting Australia air time today
Amnesty International: More than 270 TASER deaths in USA since 2001
Since June 2001, there have been more than 270 TASER-related deaths in the United States. AI is concerned that TASERs are being used as tools of routine force, rather than as weapons of last resort. Rigorous, independent, impartial study of their use and effects is urgently needed.
WHY NOW? .. we have just had a TERRIBLE case of thuggish police taser behavior, leading to death.
Fresh taser debate sparked in Australia
14 Nov 2012, 6:14 pm - Source: Cecilia Lindgren, SBS
[ EMBEDDED VIDEO ]
Fresh debate has been sparked over the use of Tasers by police, after inquest findings over the death of two men in Australia were handed down today, Cecilia Lindgren reports.
Debate around the use of Tasers in Australia continues as findings from the inquests into the Taser-related deaths of a Queensland man and a Brazilian student were handed down today.
Taser supporters say they are a less than lethal and safer alternative to guns, however critics claim their use is abused by police.
Figures obtained by New South Wales Greens MP David Shoebridge indicate the introduction of Tasers has not reduced the use of firearms.
“So what we have seen is no displacement of guns, we're not seeing Tasers used instead if firearms, we've just seen a whole new class of corporal punishment, physical punishment, being delivered by police through the use of 50,000 volts at the end of a taser”, he said.
Professor of Criminology at Monash University, Jude McCullogh, argues police should improve their negotiation skills instead of resorting to Tasers.
“The problem with less than lethal weapons such as Tasers is that police come to rely on them as a technical quick-fix and move away from those negotiation skills that are often far more effective, particularly with people who are high on drugs or going through a psychotic episode relating to a mental illness.”
Despite the criticism of Taser use, Ian Leavers from the Queensland Police Union says they remain a vital weapon in subduing violent offenders.
“They do save lives, and they will continue to do so. It’s a positive thing, but to say that police don’t like to use any force at all, it is a last resort and it has to be a case by case scenario,”
Amnesty International claims at least 500 people have died in the US after being Tasered.
But Taser International - the multinational company behind the weapon - says it saves lives and has never been a direct cause of anyone's death.
“Nothing's one hundred per cent safe, but at this stage we don't know of anything that Tasers can actually [do to] harm a person, but physically if someone's tasered and they're on the edge of a building they can fall off.
"So you've got to say that Tasers isn't one hundred per cent safe but then it all comes back to training,” said George Hateley, Australian distributor of Taser stun guns.
There are currently no nationally consistent police guidelines on how to safely use Tasers, but all states and territories agree that Tasers should only be used to protect human life or prevent potential injury to police officers or members of the public.
[ two links inside inoperative for me ]
Your Comments .. [ 3 of the comments ]
Absolute Garbage
phil - from perth, 14 hours ago
This argument is complete garbage. Police should be given as much freedom as they see fit to use whatever method of defence they see as necessary for the circumstances, from drawing weapons and firing to tazering which there should be more of. Times are changing, the streets are crawling with violent people and the police need to defend themselves and the public.... talk to them nicely !!! put yourself in their position you idiot.....bring it on.
Indiscriminate power to kill with Tasers by Police
Kelly Buckman - from Brisbane, 16 hours ago
Our Justice system prosecutes criminals for manslaughter and murder, how is this any different.? Tasers are being used on people who are not endangering anyone, instead the two most recent taser deaths were due to alcohol and mental issues.. Because the Police are protected by the fact that they are Police, their indiscriminatory powers given to use these dangerous weapons, Tasers. Which Kill and have killed innocent people. Disciplinary Action is not sufficient.
be careful what you ask for
A Vet - from Artarmon, Sydney, 16 hours ago
I was a copper from 1987 to 2010 and spent all of that time on the street. I never used o/c spray or taser at all although I was trained and issued with them. I am 6ft 2" (187cm) and 120 kgs. Capsicum spray and tasers have been brought in because police forces have let physical entry standards slip, preferring "educated" new age police instead of big,old school, footy playing,dumb arsed, hard headed coppers. This is the price of progress. Be careful of what you ask for - you just got it.
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