TASERS

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:27): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: In the past decade, police in Australia have largely limited their use of electronic control devices, known commonly as tasers, to highly trained elite response officers. South Australia has been no different, with STAR Group trialling these electronic devices for high risk situations.

Recently, Western Australia Police issued these taser devices to front-line officers, while Queensland has also announced a 12-month trial of tasers by first response officers. Little more than two weeks ago, New South Wales Police announced a rollout of tasers to senior front-line police. Against this backdrop, the Rann government welcomes the weekend decision by Commissioner of Police Mal Hyde to trial the use of electronic control devices for general duties when STAR Group is not available. This government has repeatedly stated that the Commissioner of Police is the person best placed to determine both the type of equipment to be used by our officers and the appropriate allocation of those resources.

These matters traditionally and appropriately fall within the domain of senior police, who are in the most informed position to make such operational decisions. The issuing of tasers has never been a question of dollars; rather, it has been a matter of best determined by the considered judgment of the Commissioner of Police.

Unlike the opposition, which in April criticised senior SAPOL officers on the appropriate choice of semiautomatic weapon to replace the standard issue revolver, I believe these crucial decisions are best left to experts. It is appropriate that police officers asked to protect the community against violent thugs be provided with an opportunity to take part in a trial of this technology.

The deployment of taser devices provides another option for police that may, in some circumstances, avoid the need to resort to lethal force. These devices are a less than lethal option, which can be used by police to subdue dangerous offenders and resolve volatile situations, making the streets safer for South Australian families.

Taser devices used by STAR Group were used on 21 occasions in a variety of circumstances in which a person was armed with a weapon. The tasers assisted police to resolve these situations safely. However, it was also found that in 10 per cent of the cases they were not effective due to the limitations of the devices in some situations. They were best used in a controlled team approach where other tactical options were available as a backup.

The trial announced at the weekend by Commissioner Hyde is to be conducted in a six-month period in two metropolitan local service areas (Elizabeth and South Coast) and at Port Augusta. The trial will involve deploying the devices with appropriately trained police officers in a number of designated patrol vehicles which can respond with other police to high-risk situations. The tasers are to be limited to safely dealing with situations involving persons armed with a weapon that pose a risk of serious injury to themselves or others.

The trial of tasers, which deliver a painful electric shock to the body causing muscle spasms and temporary paralysis, is expected to provide sufficient information for police to fully assess and analyse the risks and benefits of these devices. It is important the police establish that the equipment on trial is the most effective, while continuing to ensure the safety of both police and members of the public.

The state government also hopes this six-month trial will reduce the number of assaults on police in South Australia. In protecting our community, police officers often have to defend themselves against violent offenders. In the past 10 months more than 860 assaults on police officers have occurred across the state. This is totally unacceptable in a civilised society. We have had 860 incidents of assault on police in a 10-month period. In 2006, in an effort to reinforce the message that assaults on police are unacceptable, the government proclaimed harsher penalties for violent assaults against police officers.

These laws automatically increase the maximum penalty for crimes when aggravated factors are involved, including knowing the victim is vulnerable because of the nature of his or her job. The upgraded penalties for aggravated offences include: intentional serious harm, 25 years' imprisonment; intentional harm, 13 years' imprisonment; reckless serious harm, 19 years' imprisonment; unlawful threats to kill or endanger life, 12 years' imprisonment; and unlawful stalking, five years' imprisonment.

People who attack police officers deserve no sympathy. I hope these tougher penalties and this taser trial will make these thugs think twice before targeting police. I am confident the strict guidelines and training in taser use will ensure that these devices provide greater safety for our police and the South Australian community.