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Expert comment on Tasers –
Calls are growing for a review of Taser use by police after an Aboriginal man was
tasered 13 times in Perth and another man died after being tasered by police in
Sydney.
The incidents come a day after Western Australia’s Corruption and Crime
Commission report showed the weapons were increasingly being used for
compliance, despite being initially introduced to prevent injury and reduce the use
of firearms.
RMIT University criminal justice expert, Associate Professor Julian Bondy, said the
introduction of Tasers had resulted in police relying too heavily on the weapons for
conflict resolution.
“These weapons are not as safe as their advocates have been leading us to
believe,” Associate Professor Bondy said,
“The fears that have long been held regarding their misuse have been confirmed
by the Western Australian report.
“The picture that has been painted is that Tasers are effective and safe but more
and more, these weapons are not used as a ‘last resort’.
“The problem arises when they are seen as a short cut, instead of providing better
training to police in terms of resolving conflicts without the use of force.”
Associate Professor Bondy has published extensively in the field of criminal justice.
He has also led advanced training and education programs for Victoria Police and
acted as a consulted in anti-corruption training overseas.
The Program Manager of Criminal Justice at RMIT, Associate Professor Bondy is
available for comment on issues related to the use of Tasers.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Associate Professor Julian Bondy, 0411
260 866.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
5 October, 2010
NEWS 
