[Greens-Media] Expanded Taser Use Requires Parliamentary Safety Catch

[Franks, Office]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE      October 2, 2014

Expanded Taser Use Requires Parliamentary Safety Catch

In response to yesterday's announcement that SAPOL officers will now typically carry Tasers on their belts The Greens will move for regular and detailed reports on their deployment to be provided to State Parliament. Previously the Greens have had to use FoI processes to retrieve this information.

Greens' Police Spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC, said: "Yesterday's announcement that Tasers will be 'taken out' of the police car boot and typically on a police officer's hip is a significant step away from current practice. SA now needs stronger checks and balances as a consequence and our Parliament is the appropriate place for that.

"The community has a right to detailed information about how Tasers are used by our police officers, and that is why I will be moving to ensure that annual Parliamentary scrutiny occurs of Taser use by SAPOL.

"That scrutiny will include tabling documentation regarding the number and nature of incidences, and reviews of the footage taken when these weapons are deployed. Previously I have only been able to obtain this information through FoI requests; if we are to take the Tasers out of the car boot then the details of their use must similarly be out in the open.

"Tasers can kill, they kill far too often in the USA and they have killed in Australia. It is well known that in 2012 a Brazilian student (Roberto Curti) died after being chased by six police officers who fired Tasers at him 14 times for stealing two packets of biscuit while under the influence of LSD. We don't want to see a repetition of that sort of incident in SA, and expanding public scrutiny of Taser use will send that message," Ms Franks concluded.

Media Contact:
Yesha Joshi 0457 549 938




Yesha Joshi
Policy & Media Adviser to the Hon. Tammy Franks MLC
yesha.joshi at parliament.sa.gov.au<mailto:yesha.joshi at parliament.sa.gov.au> │Ph. 08 8237 9414 │ MOB. 0400 441 996
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Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
www.tammyfranks.org.au/<http://www.tammyfranks.org.au/>
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