Police consider new non-lethal weapon options; Weapons Police May
Police consider new non-lethal weapon options; Weapons Police May
0 Comments | Dominion Post; Wellington, New Zealand, Jul 22, 2010 | by Julie ASH
POLICE are investigating more non-lethal weapons – including Taser electric bullets – in the wake of a rash of shootings of officers in the line of duty.
While frontline cops have a range of tools they can use when trying to catch someone who is closer than six metres – such as batons, pepper spray and Tasers – for offenders who are further away they are forced to rely on police dogs and, in extreme cases, firearms.
Superintendent John Rivers is heading a study examining how police deal with armed offenders more than 6m away. It has been brought to the fore with a spate of violent incidents, including the shooting of Senior Constable Bruce Lamb and Constable Mitchel Alatalo in Christchurch.
“Overseas and quite routinely in places like Canada and Australia, they have less lethal medium munitions that are effective over a range that extends to 50m and in some instances more. The intention is to effectively put the person out of business – obviously not kill them. It would incapacitate and create an opportunity for police to apprehend that person.”
After the shooting of Waitara man Steven Wallace in 2000, police conducted a report into the use of less lethal weapons, which are designed to incapacitate, not kill offenders.
The report identified several options used around the world. Some of those weapons are now back in the frame, including sock rounds, bean bag rounds, and the Taser XRep – an electric bullet fired from a standard pump-action shotgun.
However, Police Association president Greg O’Connor said such weapons were not the answer. “There are all sorts of options you can look at when dealing with an offender when you know they are there and you arrive from distance. That is not the issue we are confronted with . . . Every day frontline police are being confronted increasingly by armed criminals.”
He said it was unrealistic for all officers to have shotguns.
Mr Rivers and his group would report back before Christmas.
Weapons Police May Consider
Taser XRep – an electric bullet that can be fired from a standard pump-action shotgun. The cartridge is not attached to wires, as the probes in our present Tasers are. Several bullets can be loaded into a gun. Their range is about 30 metres.
Bean bag rounds – a square, rectangular or circular fabric bag, usually containing lead and used with a launcher. The round is intended to flatten on impact and is fired directly at an individual
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