Police Minister David Elliott commits to reviewing taser use by frontline officers
Rules governing how police can use tasers and which ranks are issued the devices are set for their first major review since being widely introduced across the state in 2008. Here’s why.
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Police Minister David Elliott will review the state’s taser laws after visiting Gosford Police Station where he was surprised to learn there are so many onerous conditions on how many police and what rank can use them in the field.
His visit coincided with the first walk through of the new $3.5 million renovation to the ground floor of the station which includes the custody area, cells, foyer, interview rooms and breath testing/DNA sampling rooms.
However Mr Elliott stopped short of committing to a similar review of the legislation surrounding when police could take DNA samples saying that fell under the Attorney-General’s Office.
Mr Elliott’s visit was one of six whistlestop appearances at police stations between Gosford and Port Stephens.
Brisbane Water Superintendent Tony Joyce led Mr Elliott, Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch, Liberal MLC Taylor Martin and the Express Advocate through the new look station where he wasted no opportunity to bend the Minister’s ear.
Supt. Joyce said frontline police were hamstrung by archaic operating procedures which limited tasers to one device between two officers, prevented numerous ranks from being able to use one — including detectives — and that they could not be worn by police attending large gatherings such as football games.
Mr Elliott quipped that “I want that fixed by lunchtime” before confirming he would commit to reviewing the policies and procedures surrounding the use of the nonlethal devices, which he said he preferred over guns or capsicum spray to subdue offenders.
Supt. Joyce also lobbied the Minister to conduct a similar review of the somewhat ambiguous legislation surrounding when police could take DNA samples.
However Mr Elliott said it was out of his portfolio.
“[Supt.] Tony [Joyce] is the best lobbyist I have ever met in my 30 years,” Mr Elliott said.
Designed with direct input from Gosford police, the new station features five renovated cells which can be viewed at all times by a centralised custody management office; new interview rooms and an audiovisual suite where detained people can attend bail hearings without the need to physically attend court.
The station also features a new `wet room’ for officers returning to the station to enter without going through the foyer and an airphone outside the door for people reporting as part of their bail conditions, so they too do not have to go through the front.
The completion of the renovations also coincides with changes at Kariong Correctional Centre, which will house people refused bail by police and as an intake and transit centre for inmates attending court or being moved around the state.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said police “continually reviews the operational use of tasers in a number of respects including recomendations made by the coroner”.
“The training and deployment of tasers by our officers is in line with world’s best practice,” he said.