Police update instructions on Taser training

New Zealand Police are aware of recent advice from Taser International to deploy the Taser lower on the body and updated training advice to reflect this last week.

"The Taser is a less lethal weapon option and as such we are keen to deploy it in the safest manner possible," Assistant Commissioner Viv Rickard said.

"Taser International advised that by simply lowering the preferred target zone by a few centimeters to lower centre mass, effectively targeting either side of the belt buckle, this will incapacitate the offender as necessary and reduce the already low risk of cardiac arrest even further."

AC Rickard said NZ Police have immediately modified the training after receiving a memo from Taser International on the 17th October.

"We have an independent medical advisory group who consider all the evidence from deployment of the Taser in all situations. Police are as anxious as anyone to ensure that when we deploy these devices, we not only effectively stop violent offenders but we do so it in the safest manner possible."

AC Rickard said there was already some evidence that the Taser was a considerable deterrent in stopping offenders.

Since reintroduction of the Taser in Wellington and the three Auckland districts in December 2008, it has been deployed 78 times and discharged 6 times. This equates to 90 percent of incidents where the weapon has been deployed having been resolved with out the Taser being discharged. (These figures are accurate till the beginning of September). Those six persons on whom the device was deployed all received immediate medical assistance as per standard operating procedure without any adverse health effects.

The roll out of Taser to the remaining districts is due to be complete by the end of 2010.

ENDS

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