Your Say, SA survey shows majority support for all police officers to have Taser guns

CALLS to equip all police officers with taser guns is gaining momentum in South Australia, with an overwhelming majority supporting the move, according to the Sunday Mail Your Say, SA 2016 survey.

Former police commissioner Gary Burns posing with a Taser gun.

• YOUR SAY, SA: Complete survey results here
• Police Association calls for Tasers for all patrol officers

CALLS to equip all police officers with taser guns is gaining momentum in South Australia, with an overwhelming majority supporting the move, according to the Sunday Mail Your Say, SA 2016 survey.

It also shows almost half (46 per cent) believe the greatest law-enforcement priority facing SA is the abuse of hard drugs, such as heroin and ice, while two-thirds believe the state needs more police officers on the front line.

A resounding 86 per cent of respondents support all officers being equipped with a taser. Currently, just one officer per patrol can carry the device.

Police Association president Mark Carroll said the association had a “longstanding position” that all frontline police should carry tasers on their belts.

“We’ve lobbied very hard for this for nearly a decade and, while we’re pleased to see the situation progress to each patrol having a taser, we’d still like to see one on the belt of every single frontline officer,” he said. STAR Group officers have used the devices since June 2004 and a policy change in 2014 allowed one member of a patrol crew on each shift, including solo patrols, to carry a taser. The devices are fitted with infra-red video cameras which record when in use.

An SA Police spokeswoman said the tasers must be used only in an incident that is high risk or when an unarmed person exhibits behaviour “that cannot be safely resolved by any other tactical option”.

The call for more tasers comes amid a State Government commitment to boost police numbers by 313 above attrition by June 2018. Mr Carroll also supported the public’s call for more officers.

“The association lobbied hard for this to ensure the government delivered on its promise,” he said. “If it wasn’t for our organisation and its members this would never have occurred.

“The association has also agreed to a new junior cadet wage which will see more young South Australians recruited into the police force.”

The survey also shows more than 60 per cent believe the best way to combat ice addiction and associated crime is a mix of tougher criminal penalties and more access to rehabilitation services.

Mr Carroll said the association shared the community’s “deep concern” at the significant increase in the manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine. “People who manufacture and sell this drug do grave damage to society and, if found guilty, should receive lengthy jail terms,” he said.

The SA Police spokeswoman said it was aware the methylamphetamine market — which includes ice — continued to grow globally.

“It’s clear that in South Australia there has been a consistent increase in methamph­etamine-related arrests and seizures,” she said.

“Police are being proactive — we’ve doubled the number of arrests since 2006 and continue to target local traffickers and producers.”