TASERS PREVENT INJURY DURING FIRST MONTH OF TRIAL: SPENCE
Published Wednesday, 08 August, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Tasers are being used by Queensland police to resolve dangerous situations without injury, Police Minister Judy Spence said today.
Ms Spence said the first month of a 12 month trial of the electro muscular disruption devices, among District Duty Officers and Regional Duty Officers in the Metropolitan North, Metropolitan South and South Eastern police regions, has proved a great success.
“Tasers have been discharged during 11 incidents since the trial began on July 1 – each time resolving the issue at hand and resulting in the person of interest becoming compliant for further police action,” Ms Spence said.
“Police have also issued warnings a Taser was about to be deployed on 19 occasions. Each time the person surrendered to officers without the device being discharged.
“The use of a Taser in each of these cases has prevented injury to the offender, arresting officers or other members of the public.”
Ms Spence said in one case police deployed 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.
“Police had approached the man, amid concerns he had attempted to abduct a child on the beach,” Ms Spence said.
“The man was not injured as a result of the Taser being discharged 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.”
A Taser was also used to subdue a suspect who allegedly attempted to attack police at Lutwyche.
“Officers first used capsicum spray in an attempt to calm the man, but he allegedly continued to fight and attack, so police discharged the Taser and the man was detained without further incident,” Ms Spence said.
“The purpose of this trial is to ascertain whether Tasers can be used as an effective tool to reduce the number of assaults on police and protect the public from dangerous or violent offenders, while also reducing the chance of harm to offenders themselves.
“In every incident so far, the use of a Taser has resolved a potentially dangerous situation, without injury to police, the public or the offender, and without the need for medical treatment for the person detained by police.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287
Ms Spence said the first month of a 12 month trial of the electro muscular disruption devices, among District Duty Officers and Regional Duty Officers in the Metropolitan North, Metropolitan South and South Eastern police regions, has proved a great success.
“Tasers have been discharged during 11 incidents since the trial began on July 1 – each time resolving the issue at hand and resulting in the person of interest becoming compliant for further police action,” Ms Spence said.
“Police have also issued warnings a Taser was about to be deployed on 19 occasions. Each time the person surrendered to officers without the device being discharged.
“The use of a Taser in each of these cases has prevented injury to the offender, arresting officers or other members of the public.”
Ms Spence said in one case police deployed 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.
“Police had approached the man, amid concerns he had attempted to abduct a child on the beach,” Ms Spence said.
“The man was not injured as a result of the Taser being discharged 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.”
A Taser was also used to subdue a suspect who allegedly attempted to attack police at Lutwyche.
“Officers first used capsicum spray in an attempt to calm the man, but he allegedly continued to fight and attack, so police discharged the Taser and the man was detained without further incident,” Ms Spence said.
“The purpose of this trial is to ascertain whether Tasers can be used as an effective tool to reduce the number of assaults on police and protect the public from dangerous or violent offenders, while also reducing the chance of harm to offenders themselves.
“In every incident so far, the use of a Taser has resolved a potentially dangerous situation, without injury to police, the public or the offender, and without the need for medical treatment for the person detained by police.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287