SUCCESSFUL START TO POLICE TASER TRIAL
Published Sunday, 08 July, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Queensland police have successfully used tasers to deal with four dangerous situations during the first week of a 12 month trial by first response officers, Minister for Police Judy Spence said today.
“Police successfully deployed tasers on three occasions and a warning they would use a taser helped end another potentially dangerous incident,” Ms Spence said.
“One incident saw police deploy a taser on a man who allegedly attacked a female Constable and tried to grab her gun belt at Nobby’s Beach on the Gold Coast.
“The man was not injured and was detained by police.”
“In another incident police used a taser on a woman who was allegedly strangling a heavily pregnant woman at Alexandra Hills in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.
“The woman was immediately subdued and there was no injury to police, the pregnant woman or her alleged attacker.”
Ms Spence said the third incident saw police deploy a taser on a man during a standoff at East Brisbane.
“Again this man was subdued and detained without injury.”
“In a fourth incident a police warning that a taser would be used helped end a potentially dangerous situation in Fortitude Valley.
“Two men were detained after an alleged assault.”
Ms Spence said all four incidents demonstrated the effectiveness of tasers in ending situations where the lives of police officers and members of the public were in danger.
“Already in the first week of this trial we have seen the benefits of tasers in helping police to detain alleged offenders without any injury to the offenders, the public or themselves.
“On each occasion a taser was used, there was no injury or requirement for medical treatment for the person detained by police,” Ms Spence said.
The Queensland Police Service Special Emergency Response Team has also used tasers 13 times since 2002, each time without incident.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287
“Police successfully deployed tasers on three occasions and a warning they would use a taser helped end another potentially dangerous incident,” Ms Spence said.
“One incident saw police deploy a taser on a man who allegedly attacked a female Constable and tried to grab her gun belt at Nobby’s Beach on the Gold Coast.
“The man was not injured and was detained by police.”
“In another incident police used a taser on a woman who was allegedly strangling a heavily pregnant woman at Alexandra Hills in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.
“The woman was immediately subdued and there was no injury to police, the pregnant woman or her alleged attacker.”
Ms Spence said the third incident saw police deploy a taser on a man during a standoff at East Brisbane.
“Again this man was subdued and detained without injury.”
“In a fourth incident a police warning that a taser would be used helped end a potentially dangerous situation in Fortitude Valley.
“Two men were detained after an alleged assault.”
Ms Spence said all four incidents demonstrated the effectiveness of tasers in ending situations where the lives of police officers and members of the public were in danger.
“Already in the first week of this trial we have seen the benefits of tasers in helping police to detain alleged offenders without any injury to the offenders, the public or themselves.
“On each occasion a taser was used, there was no injury or requirement for medical treatment for the person detained by police,” Ms Spence said.
The Queensland Police Service Special Emergency Response Team has also used tasers 13 times since 2002, each time without incident.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287