The Australian Federal Police Association has sent out a circular calling for more Tasers while the rest of Australia is wondering if they’re such a good idea.
Dear XXXXX ,
As some members may be aware, during the recent federal election campaign the AFPA lobbied for the funding of Tasers (or similar devices) for general-duty officers in the ACT.
Currently, Tasers are only issued to the Special Response Service in the ACT and not at all within the broader AFP.
Yesterday, AFPA CEO Jim Torr renewed the call for the roll-out of Tasers in an interview with ABC Local Radio. In the interview, he reiterated the case for the general issue of Tasers and extended the ambit of our request to include AFP Officers in all States and Territories albeit with ACT Policing remaining the number one priority.
The AFPA has released a great deal of material over the last two years regarding the benefits of Tasers over traditional use of force options. Members are no doubt aware of these arguments by now and they do not need to be repeated here.
However, if you are interested in the latest arguments put forward by the Association, the ABC News article can be accessed at this link.
The link also provides access to Ross Solly’s full interview of Jim Torr as well as a further interview with the ACT Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, on the issue of Tasers and their potential roll-out in the ACT.
On the one hand you’d much rather be tased than shot with a 9mm Glock.
On the other hand non-lethal weapons tend to get used a lot more.
Over to you Rioters.