New Zealand Tasers Target Mentally Ill

Recently concluded New Zealand police trials indicated that the year-long period saw Tasers were frequently used to subdue people who appeared to be suffering from some sort of instability. In at least three cases Tasers were used by police to threaten unruly clients in mental health facilities in an effort to control behaviors.

Last week Police Commissioner Howard Broad announced that Tasers are now issued to police forces across the country. In the wake of his announcement, coupled with the report results, a Mental Health Foundation executive expressed concerns that Tasers would be used more frequently on the mentally ill. Unfortunately, in 53% of cases in which Tasers were actually fired, the targets had been identified as having mental health issues of one or more types.

According to Dr. David Codyre, psychiatrist and director of mental health at primary health provide group ProCare, a person in the thrall of psychosis is predictably “terrified and highly aroused.” Codyre said the report “bears out the worst fears of the mental health industry.”

Of concern is the fact that officers brought Tasers to mental institutions at all. Codyre said, “The climate (in institutions) is one of reducing the use of force and here you are introducing a weapon into the environment.”

Not good.