Jacinda

ARDERN

Police Spokesperson

12 June 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

Taser recommendations must be taken seriously

The police must take seriously the findings of a report into the excessive use of a Taser by a Whakatane police officer and act on them, Labour’s Police spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

“The Independent Police Complaints Authority found that while the officer in question used his OC spray appropriately when trying to detain someone who was resisting arrest, ‘the subsequent force was unjustified’.

“The camera attached to the Taser showed it was used on two occasions, something that that the IPCA found ‘amounted to an excessive use of force’. The IPCA subsequently recommended that Police take disciplinary action.

“While the Police have accepted the use of the Taser did not meet their standards they have claimed the process was dealt with at the time and have chosen not to revisit the issue or discipline the officer.

“That is a less than adequate response.

“The IPCA often takes some time to properly consider a case. To use the delay as an excuse for doing nothing is not good enough.

“Either the Government needs to ensure that the IPCA is able to complete cases in a more timely manner, or there needs to be some acknowledgement by the Police that employment matters will need to be revisited when a report such as this is released.

“Tasers were introduced amidst much controversy.

“The Police must ensure the public can have confidence that they are being used appropriately, and that action is being taken when they are not.”

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