New Rules for TASER Device Usage

New rules put in place will see NSW police only permitted to utilize their TASER  devices as a last resort and in circumstances where conflict and negotiation to control a situation has failed.

An Australia police minister and commissioner agreed to review and update the operating procedures for the employment of the self defense devices by frontline officers.

Additionally, the new rules followed a report that was handed down which featured a number of recommendations. However, while officers undergo their training in the utilization of the TASER devices they are expressly told that the use of these tools should never be employed to resolve a non-threatening or passive situation.

The employment of the non-lethal tools has become an important resource for the frontline officers. Not only that, but they provide the opportunity to diffuse dangerous, volatile and potentially life threatening situations that a firearm would not be able to do.

Unfortunately, while the devices have become a source of protection for the officers who employ them and the citizens they serve to defend, they are constantly being bombarded with criticism. However, while the NSW police are fully trained in the usage of TASER weapons, the new rules will make it clear to them that the tools should only be employed as a last resort.

Since the devices have been implemented in police departments across the world, they have helped officers to lower the amount of crime on the streets. Not only that, but the actual use of the tools themselves in many law enforcement agencies has been low. In most cases it is the mere sight of the tools that is enough to deter a criminal from committing a crime.

For many officers though, who may feel the devices come with too many rules, they will now have to understand when they can and cannot employ their self defense devices in situations. An officer’s job is a tough one and as a result they are required to have various forms of protection at hand they can rely on.

However, on top of that, they also have to be mindful of their actions when it comes to employing stunning devices, as their actions could very easily see negative comments from those who don’t agree with them.