Published Tuesday, 01 July, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Spence rejects taser criticism
Police Minister Judy Spence today rejected criticism from both sides of the taser debate.
Ms Spence said: “The Queensland Council of Civil Liberties (QCCL) has accused us of moving too fast on tasers, while the Opposition claims we’re not moving fast enough.
“The facts are tasers can save lives and certainly prevent injuries to offenders and police.
“Tasers were used on 188 occasions during the trial. 82 of those occasions involved only the presentation and warning of use without deployment of the device.
“In other words just the sight of the taser or mention of it was enough to defuse a dangerous situation without the taser having to be used.
“On many occasions tasers have been used to stop people self harming.
“Police are putting together the plans for the staged roll out of tasers which is a huge task and we will be announcing more details soon.
“In terms of concerns from civil libertarians, every time a taser is used a high level committee, involving the CMC, examines the circumstances of the use.
Media Contact: 3239 6218
Ms Spence said: “The Queensland Council of Civil Liberties (QCCL) has accused us of moving too fast on tasers, while the Opposition claims we’re not moving fast enough.
“The facts are tasers can save lives and certainly prevent injuries to offenders and police.
“Tasers were used on 188 occasions during the trial. 82 of those occasions involved only the presentation and warning of use without deployment of the device.
“In other words just the sight of the taser or mention of it was enough to defuse a dangerous situation without the taser having to be used.
“On many occasions tasers have been used to stop people self harming.
“Police are putting together the plans for the staged roll out of tasers which is a huge task and we will be announcing more details soon.
“In terms of concerns from civil libertarians, every time a taser is used a high level committee, involving the CMC, examines the circumstances of the use.
Media Contact: 3239 6218