NSW Police react to Taser criticism A 12-MONTH trial of police Tasers, which was used to justify arming every frontline officer in the state with the controversial weapon, was characterised by a litany of misuses and abuses that were covered up by police and the government. The proof comes in internal police documents relating to the trial in 2008-09, which the Herald obtained after a year-long freedom-of-information battle. The documents reveal that police and the government used the trial as window dressing to affirm a decision they had already made – to give the weapon to all general duties police – and ignored worrying results. The many abuses the Herald uncovered include: Stunning a handcuffed child at a juvenile detention centre. Stunning two suicidal people covered in fuel, which can be ignited by a Taser blast. The repeated stunning of a compliant man who presented no threat and was surrounded by members of the riot squad. This is being investigated by the Ombudsman and police. The secretary of the National Council for Civil Liberties, Cameron Murphy, said: ”It’s outrageous that they’ve used the weapon this way, and it’s even more outrageous that they haven’t told us about it. ”They’ve been at best disingenuous, at worst they actively misled people about the trial.” ——————————————————————- Forcomplaints about NSW Police Force. NSW Ombudsman Level 24, 580 George Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9286 1000 Toll free …
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