❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding the use of tasers by WA police in 2008 and 2009, prompted by a Queensland incident. The response details taser availability, usage, failures, multiple tasering incidents, and medical attention required.
AnsweredQoN 1143Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Referring to the death of a Queensland man who died during an arrest last week, and after allegedly being tasered by police more than 20 times, (as reported on
ABC News
of 18 June 2009), I ask -
(1) How many tasers were available for use in Western Australia by sworn police officers in 2008 and until now in 2009?
(2) On how many occasions during each year have sworn police officers used tasers in the line of duty in Western Australia?
(3) On how many occasions during each year have tasers failed to work properly when used in the line of duty?
(4) How many people were tasered more than once in the same incident?
(5) How many people required medical attention after being tasered?
ABC News
of 18 June 2009), I ask -
(1) How many tasers were available for use in Western Australia by sworn police officers in 2008 and until now in 2009?
(2) On how many occasions during each year have sworn police officers used tasers in the line of duty in Western Australia?
(3) On how many occasions during each year have tasers failed to work properly when used in the line of duty?
(4) How many people were tasered more than once in the same incident?
(5) How many people required medical attention after being tasered?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 September 2009
Responded by
Minister for Energy representing the Minister for Police
Response time
26 days
(3) 2008 - Tasers were ineffective on 156 occasions. 2009 - Tasers were ineffective on 113 occasions. Taser were ineffective in the following categories: Probes failed to discharge. The probes failed to have any effect on the person including missing the person or only one probe hit the person. Low battery (4) 2008 - 138 people (average of two five second cycles per person). 2009 (January to June) - 80 people (average of two five second cycles per person). (5) 2008 - 98 people were provided medical attention. 2009 (January to June) - 88 people were provided medical attention 2008 Treated at scene by police officer: 24 Treated at police station by police officer: 13 Treated by ambulance staff: 13 Treated at hospital: 48 Total 98 2009 Treated at scene by police officer: 16 Treated at police station by police officer: 19 Treated by ambulance staff: 10 Treated at hospital: 43 Total 88 Medical attention by a police officer would primarily be the officers cleaning and dressing puncture wounds or minor scrapes. More serious injuries may not be the direct effect of the taser but from the person falling to the ground, or those who may have pre existing medical conditions. Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on http://www.rtlib.com
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