Police will trial the use of taser stun guns in the second half of the year as an additional less lethal tactical option for the apprehension of violent offenders, Superintendent Tony McLeod, the National Manager of Police Operations Support, said today.
"Police have undertaken a review of the use of less lethal options available for New Zealand Police," said Superintendent McLeod.
The review looked at the way Police deal with violent offenders to ensure the tactics and equipment options are the most effective, and least likely to endanger the safety of police staff, public or offenders.
Superintendent McLeod said extensive research had been undertaken into its use by policing agencies in the UK, United States, Canada and Australia.
"New Zealand Police will follow the British path. Tasers were introduced into the United Kingdom after a highly successful five constabularies trial. Policy was comprehensively developed including medical protocols for the after-care of offenders subjected to taser action. Tasers were only issued to specially trained officers.
"A New Zealand trial will also use the X26 model with 5 watts of voltage compared with the older M26 model used mainly in the United States which involves 26 watts of voltage.
"The research clearly identifies the advantages of Taser as an effective less lethal intervention option when dealing with:
• unarmed (or lightly armed) but highly aggressive people,
• persons under the influence of mind altering substances, solvents or alcohol.
"The safety of the public and police staff have been the prime objectives in researching new less lethal weapon technology," Superintendent McLeod said.
Overseas jurisdictions that use Taser have shown it to be successful in relation to the management of violent offenders. It has significantly reduced the number of injuries to offenders and the Police, and there have been fewer complaints against police.
The tasers will undergo trial in North Shore/Waitakere Rodney, Auckland City, Counties Manukau and Wellington (including Wairarapa) districts. The trial will be monitored and a decision made at the conclusion of the trial as to full implementation.
ENDS