The RCMP is Canada's federal police force. They provide police services throughout Canada in any city or area where the local or provincial authorities do not.
Drawing on a report by Canadian Press (CP), Dawg reports:
A new report, the results of a joint investigation by Canadian Press and CBC Radio-Canada of more than 3200 Taser incidents between 2002 and 2007, shows that multiple use of Tasers on individuals by the RCMP is on the rise.
In 43% of the cases, more than one shock was administered. In 31 cases, the cops used 7 or more jolts.
In two-thirds of the multiple-shock incidents, the citizen at the receiving end was unarmed.
The cops are apparently ignoring an internal policy bulletin that warned of the hazards of repeated shocks, and advised officers not to inflict them "unless situational factors dictate otherwise": a loophole, of course, that you could drive a truck through as your superiors nudge-nudge and wink-wink and close ranks as usual.
This may be a look into the future of taser use here in New Zealand. It's not pretty. It indicates that all the assurances about "safe" use go out the window over time and the usual (and understandable) police practice of watching each other's backs kicks in.
Do we need to go there?
I think the cops will use tasers as a form of torture and social control. I am worried that they will use them on the mentally ill and intellectually disabled if they nut off in public.
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