On Air Highlights

Should Pacific police be cautious about non lethal weapons?

20 February 2012

Listen and download: MP3

A growing number of police units in Pacific countries are adopting new ‘suppression’ weapons like spray devices and rubber bullets.

But there’s concern about how well police forces around the world are trained to use some of the more controversial so called non lethal weapons.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International recently urged tighter limits on use of taser guns after a man was killed in the United States during an altercation with police who were using the device.

The warnings come as some Pacific countries are being urged to adopt tasers.

In Australia, Queensland’s Crime and Misconduct Commission has made several recommendations to the QLD police force regarding tasers.

Dr Rebecca Denning, Director of Research at the CMC told Clement Paligaru, the use of tasers by law enforcement agencies should be accompanied by some basic procedural necessities a s a starting point.

Presenter: Clement Paligaru

Speaker: Dr Rebecca Denning, Director of Research, QLD Crime and Misconduct Commission