Taser used once in first month of trial

A Taser in its holster on a police officer's belt. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Tasers have been drawn by police 13 times during the first month of a one-year trial, but used just once.

The 50,000 volt electrical charge of the Taser was used at an incident in Western Springs on September 8.

On nine occasions police have drawn the weapon, using a tactic called "laser painting" to calm the situation down.

Tasers were taken out of their holster as a precaution on three occasions, police said.

They have been drawn twice in recent incidents involving people known to have access to weapons.

On September 20 a Taser was taken out of its holster as a precaution after a woman had been threatened with a knife in New Lynn.

On September 27 a man armed with a knife in Counties Manukau was safely disarmed using "laser painting" after threatening to kill himself.

- NZHERALD STAFF