Page 5162 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
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that, since tasers were issued to all front-line police in that state, not one person has been shot and killed by police.
I do not seek to downplay the important function that such independent reviews of these serious matters perform. What I do seek to bring to members’ attention is the fact that one must do more than scratch the surface to reveal a more complete picture. What the WACCC report does say is that the vast majority of police deployment of tasers has been appropriate, in accordance with the guidelines. Yet, there is always room for improvement.
It is also interesting to note that the Western Australian police have a lower threshold at which deployment of a taser is authorised than does the Australian Federal Police. Although the CCC reports that tasers have been used contrary to guidelines as a tool to enforce compliance, this represents a very small fraction of the instances in which tasers were deployed properly.
Since the 2008 incident of a male person being subjected to 13 taser discharges in the Perth watch-house—all its officers have been charged—some 25,000 detainees have been processed through that same Perth watch-house and since then taser has not been deployed once. Yet, 35 officers have suffered injuries in handling detainees. Clearly, consideration needs to focus on a proportionate balance between officer safety, public interest and the welfare of persons in custody. This is a point that the ACT government wishes to highlight.
I do not want to labour the point but if I can indulge members I have one last fact relating to Western Australia. In 2009, taser was the new support option most widely used in that state; yet it is recognised as the least likely to cause lasting injury or long-term effect. All other use of force options are likely to cause injury.
In May 2010, Western Australian police published its post-implementation review of the taser report. This is a particularly detailed and insightful report that I would urge all those interested to read closely in conjunction with the WACCC report. This report states that, in 2008, there were 286 complaints lodged against police officers relating to all use of force. Of these complaints, the taser was rated third behind physical force and physical restraint. In 2009, physical force, physical restraint and use of handcuffs were all subject to more complaints than taser use.
Let me make it perfectly clear that I am neither advocating for the increased deployment of taser in the ACT nor against it. This government’s position has been made clear by the minister. I am, however, advocating for restraint in the selective use of comments before allowing ACT Policing to finalise its review and present its findings to the government.
Governments should always allow agencies the opportunity to assess internal practices and procedures, particularly with regard to matters of operational safety, without undue interference or pressure. In this regard, the minister has taken the right approach in calling for evidence for the need for a wider deployment of tasers in the interests of the safety of both police and the public. This is an operational matter for police; yet the government recognises it is an issue that has significant community interest and concern.
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