Taser operational trial to begin

A 12-month trial for the potential introduction of the Taser as a tactical option will start in September.

The trial will be held in Auckland’s three districts and Wellington and will involve approximately 90 staff, including frontline GDB officers and AOS members.

The objective is to have certified frontline response staff deployed on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis within selected districts.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Marshall says the decision to trial the Taser was made after extensive research into its use by police agencies in the UK, United States, Canada and Australia.

“The research has clearly identified the advantages of Taser as an effective less lethal intervention option when dealing with:

• unarmed (or lightly armed), but highly aggressive people;
• individuals in various states of mental health crisis; and
• people under the influence of mind altering substances, solvents or alcohol.

“There has been an ongoing programme to identify less lethal means by which police can defend themselves and members of the public,” says Peter.

“Staff and public safety have been the prime objectives in researching new less lethal weapon technology and we have been sure to involve key stakeholders such as Amnesty International and related organisations.”

Overseas jurisdictions which use Tasers have shown it to be successful in managing violent offenders, significantly reducing the number of injuries to police and offenders and resulting in fewer complaints against police.

“All the international evidence we have examined provides reassurance that the Taser, along with OC spray, are increasingly regarded by international policing jurisdictions as comparable less lethal tactical response options,” says Peter.