MEDIA RELEASE
22 May 2009

Hone Harawira
Maori Party MP for Tai Tokerau

Maori Party supports UN concerns over taser guns

The latest report from the United Nations reinforces the reasons why police in this country shouldn't use tasers, Maori Party police spokesperson Hone Harawira said. "We agree with the UN when its says that the severe pain caused by tasers could be seen as a form of torture and could even kill someone," Mr Harawira said.

"The last time I checked the job description of this country's police force I didn't come across any duty to torture people.

"We realise there are dangerous people out there, but we also know there are innocent people out there and therefore we don't want tools of torture in the hands of police or anyone else for that matter.

"It will be a sorry day if every frontline police officer in this country is armed with these guns."

The Prime Minister needs to seriously listen to what the United Nations Committee Against Torture is saying, Mr Harawira said.

ENDS

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