Tasers spark fear for Geelong teens

ERIN PEARSON
ARMING Geelong police with Taser stun guns could be fatal for teenagers, a legal service has warned.
Smart Justice for Young People’s Tiffany Overall said she was concerned police would use their new weapons to “unfairly” target youths.
Young people already felt “over-policed”, she said.
“Tasers will cost more than just Victoria Police’s reputation,” Ms Overall warned.
“Our concern is that the taser is going to become a first-option for police in the way that capsicum spray has become a tool of compliance.
“We hear many cases of young people being sprayed when they pose no physical threat to police and we fear that Tasers will be used in the same way.”
Victoria Police this week revealed it would arm Geelong and Ballarat officers with 30 stun guns this year during the first phase of a statewide roll out.
The Tasers green light followed a 12-month trial of the devices in Bendigo and Morwell.
Geelong Superintendent Paul Pottage said all of Geelong’s 100 uniform and highway patrol police would receive three days of extensive training before receiving Tasers.
Often just raising Tasers was enough to prompt offenders to comply, Supt Pottage said.
“We haven’t had shootings down here for a long time and hope that remains a permanent situation but it’s not guaranteed, so Tasers certainly give us another option.
“Statistics consistently show we have higher levels of violent interaction with people.
“I know some people have concerns but the trials at Morwell and Bendigo demonstrated clearly that with the proper training Tasers don’t end up being used all that often.”
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said strict protocols would guide the use of Tasers.
All Taser use would be closely monitored and video-recorded, he said.
“Geelong and Ballarat were determined as priority areas because our data tells us that police in those areas attend a significant number of jobs where weapons are used against police.
“There’s a high reporting of (capsicum spray) use and frequent dealings with people who have mental health disorders or who are affected by substance abuse.”