Statewide Media Release

Tasers introduced across Queensland early in the New Year

Queensland Police will receive their first shipment of tasers early in the New Year as a part of the statewide rollout of the new weapons.

Speaking at a community engagement meeting on the rollout, Deputy Commissioner (Regional Operations) Kathy Rynders said today that each region had prioritised which police would receive tasers first.

“We did a careful risk assessment of the region, including looking at the number of assaults on police, when deciding which officers would receive tasers first,” Deputy Commissioner Rynders said.

By June 2009, every district will have a taser capability, with all operational police trained to use tasers by 2011.

“The rollout is about more than simply shipping the weapons. Our officers receive comprehensive training in the use of the weapons, and every station has to be equipped to store the weapons securely,” Deputy Commissioner Rynders said.

“During the trial last year, tasers quickly showed their worth in helping police deal with violent and dangerous situations without resorting to the use of a firearm.

They proved particularly beneficial in situations where people were threatening to harm themselves or others, allowing police to resolve the situation without injury to the public or themselves.

We’ve also made a real effort to ensure that everyone in the community is aware of the training, policy and accountability frameworks put in place by the QPS in an attempt to ensure they are used appropriately.

There are robust internal reporting requirements around the deployment of tasers, and every time they are drawn from their holster, the situation will be overseen at a regional level to ensure it was appropriate.

There is also oversight by the Ethical Standards Command, as well as external oversight by the Crime and Misconduct Commission. In effect, use of a taser is taken as seriously by the QPS as the use of a firearm,” Deputy Commissioner Rynders said.