Arabic version: تحقيق يكشف الاستخدام غير المناسب لأجهزة الصعق الكهربائي من قبل الشرطة في أستراليا
A recent investigation has raised significant concerns regarding the use of tasers by police in Australia, highlighting incidents where the devices were employed in inappropriate and unnecessary situations. According to ABC News, cases involving individuals with disabilities have brought this issue to the forefront.
One notable incident involved a man named Stephen, who was tasered multiple times by police while on his family farm in Shepparton. Despite being on private property and approaching officers with his hands up, he was met with a demand to get on the ground. In less than two minutes, he was tasered and restrained. Victoria Police stated that Stephen was known to them, that there were “safety warnings in place”, and described his actions as “walking towards the officers in an aggressive state”, but the footage from his dashcam tells a different story.
Another alarming case featured Tiejwana, a 16-year-old girl with multiple disabilities, who was tasered at her special school in Townsville. Police arrived to interview her regarding a potential sexual assault but ended up using a taser when she became overwhelmed. Her mother expressed confusion and outrage over the decision to use such force on a vulnerable child, asking, “Why would they taser a girl with a disability, at a disability school?”
The investigation has also revealed a troubling trend in taser usage across Australia. Data indicates a significant increase in taser incidents in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland over recent years. Critics, including criminologist Emma Ryan, argue that police are becoming overly reliant on tasers, which were originally intended for use in life-threatening situations. They warn of ‘mission creep,’ where the use of tasers extends beyond their intended purpose.
Currently, police forces in every state and territory are expanding their taser inventories, with Queensland Police investing $47 million in new devices. Despite rising concerns, police officials defend their use of tasers as a necessary tactical option for managing potentially dangerous situations. However, the ongoing scrutiny suggests that the conversation about police practices and accountability regarding taser use is far from over.
