KEY POINTS:
A damning report into the police Taser stun gun trial has prompted renewed calls from opponents for the trial to be abandoned and the weapon withdrawn.
The Auckland District Law Society report, titled Less Lethal? on the use of the 50,000 volt stun guns highlighted concerns about the
casual and more frequent use of the weapon by police, a lack of insistence on strict compliance with guidelines, and a lack of guidance for multiple use of the gun.
Opponents have gone further, predicting that someone might die after being hit by the gun.
Campaign Against the Taser spokeswoman Marie Dhyrberg endorsed the report's findings, saying there had been a lack of openness in supplying information about the trial, which runs until August 31.
She said the report also identified the inherent dangers of the Taser being used on people taking drugs or suffering medical conditions.
"These problems and these risks are very, very concerning."
The risk of someone dying after being struck by a Taser had existed since they started being used, she said.
"That is well documented in overseas use of Taser. There are a number of Taser-related deaths.
"Hopefully, it will not happen in New Zealand but the risk is there."
"With all the issues taken together, this is a report in its entirety that is very damning.
Both Ms Dhyrberg and John Minto, of Global Peace and Justice, want to see the trial stopped immediately.
"We don't believe that the trial should proceed at all. It's very clear that the guidelines are not being followed and we run the risk here of the Taser being use as a first line of defence rather than as a last resort," Mr Minto said.
"If we do that, we are going to see people in New Zealand die as a result of Tasering."
Auckland District Law Society barrister Anthony Trenwith said "laser painting", where the laser beam was played on the victim as a warning, was "a trigger pull" short of firing.
"If there is a casualness developing in pulling the weapon and "laser painting", then there is a greater risk of casualness developing in firing it."
The society would like to see better auditing and reporting processes, increased consultation with the public on the use of the Taser, and that the final decision on whether to implement its use nationwide be put in the hands of an independent body.
The guns have been presented 56 times and fired on eight occasions since the trial began in four regions in September last year, all within strict guidelines, according to police.
The man in charge of the trial, Superintendent John Rivers, said today the guidelines were "very restrictive" and police were not being casual in their approach.
The Taser was a tactical response and a less lethal alternative to using firearms.
"Laser painting was standard practice when a Taser was being deployed and was essential, he said.
Verbal commands were given and the victim given the opportunity to submit before the Taser was discharged as a last resort.
New Zealand's procedures for Taser use, including monitoring and evaluation, were "exceptionally comprehensive" compared with other countries.
All instances where the Taser had been used were recorded on a police website.
It was unlikely that the trial would be aborted, Mr Rivers said.
- NZPA
