Wirraway
25th Nov 2004, 15:16
Fri "The Australian"
Stun gun plan for airline marshals
Patricia Karvelas
November 26, 2004
AIR marshals on both domestic and international flights, and police peacekeepers on unarmed missions, could be given stun guns under a plan being considered by the Howard Government.
A six-month trial of the Taser X26, which can incapacitate a person by temporarily collapsing their muscles, will be held by a specialist unit in the ACT to see if police and security forces should get weapons.
A spokesman for federal Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said yesterday the Taser would be tested over six months by a special AFP safety committee.
"Based on the findings of that trial period, wider implementation across the agency could occur if the Tasers are successful," he said.
Stun guns could be used by air marshals and Australian Federal Police units serving overseas in countries such as Papua New Guinea, the AFP's specialist response and security head Detective Superintendent Rob Gilliland said yesterday.
Twenty-nine AFP officers have begun operations in PNG as part of a project to address law-and-order problems. They are the first of about 200 police to be deployed across the country under the Assisting Australia Police program.
Detective Superintendent Gilliland confirmed that air marshals could eventually be equipped with Tasers.
"Yes, it certainly is an option," he told reporters.
"For example, we have a tactical response team that's committed to our international deployment group at the moment and as those individuals are trained in the methodology of utilising the Taser, then that option will be made available to them."
He said the Taser delivered a high bolt of electricity to its human target through electricity-charged probes fired from a special gun.
"It impacts immediately upon the central nervous system," he said.
"It incapacitates the individual and allows police to move forward and restrain them in a safe and effective way.
"The effects last for a short period of time and then there are no long-lasting effects on the subject."
Reuters news agency reported that Taser International Inc will employ its stun guns on Korean Air planes, which will become the first commercial carrier to win US government approval to use the devices to defend flights against hijackings and other threats.
But Tasers have been embroiled in controversy.
The New York Times reported earlier this year that since 2001 at least 50 people, including six in June, had died after being shocked with stun guns.
Taser, which makes several versions of the guns, says its weapons are not lethal.
Additional reporting: AAP
=========================================
Stun gun plan for airline marshals
Patricia Karvelas
November 26, 2004
AIR marshals on both domestic and international flights, and police peacekeepers on unarmed missions, could be given stun guns under a plan being considered by the Howard Government.
A six-month trial of the Taser X26, which can incapacitate a person by temporarily collapsing their muscles, will be held by a specialist unit in the ACT to see if police and security forces should get weapons.
A spokesman for federal Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison said yesterday the Taser would be tested over six months by a special AFP safety committee.
"Based on the findings of that trial period, wider implementation across the agency could occur if the Tasers are successful," he said.
Stun guns could be used by air marshals and Australian Federal Police units serving overseas in countries such as Papua New Guinea, the AFP's specialist response and security head Detective Superintendent Rob Gilliland said yesterday.
Twenty-nine AFP officers have begun operations in PNG as part of a project to address law-and-order problems. They are the first of about 200 police to be deployed across the country under the Assisting Australia Police program.
Detective Superintendent Gilliland confirmed that air marshals could eventually be equipped with Tasers.
"Yes, it certainly is an option," he told reporters.
"For example, we have a tactical response team that's committed to our international deployment group at the moment and as those individuals are trained in the methodology of utilising the Taser, then that option will be made available to them."
He said the Taser delivered a high bolt of electricity to its human target through electricity-charged probes fired from a special gun.
"It impacts immediately upon the central nervous system," he said.
"It incapacitates the individual and allows police to move forward and restrain them in a safe and effective way.
"The effects last for a short period of time and then there are no long-lasting effects on the subject."
Reuters news agency reported that Taser International Inc will employ its stun guns on Korean Air planes, which will become the first commercial carrier to win US government approval to use the devices to defend flights against hijackings and other threats.
But Tasers have been embroiled in controversy.
The New York Times reported earlier this year that since 2001 at least 50 people, including six in June, had died after being shocked with stun guns.
Taser, which makes several versions of the guns, says its weapons are not lethal.
Additional reporting: AAP
=========================================