Further Shockers
There is an unfortunate confirmation of suspicions raised in the earlier "Shocking Designs" item. Australian Labor Party president Carmen Lawrence has called for an inquiry into "disturbing reports" from Port Hedland Detention Centre in Western Australia. Amnesty International also called for an inquiry after a riot at the centre last week.
Dr Lawrence has gathered "reliably sourced" reports that a 14-year-old boy was beaten by guards while in isolation and that "electric cattle prods were used on another boy during the disturbances". It would come as no surprise if this equipment were actually Tasers. Nor would it be surprising to find that they have been used in other circumstances, hidden from public view.
The Queensland Police also admitted on the Channel 10 5pm TV news last night that officers had used a Taser to end a seige overnight, and that the equipment was part of a trial. [This is not to accuse the QPS of untoward behaviour, merely a correlation.]
The same news also showed footage of cops in the US beating a man to death with their clubs, apparently trying to "restrain" him. The response of local officials to this incident was to call for the employment of Tasers "to protect the officers". After viewing that footage, I would say the only protection those particular officers seem to need would be from repetitive strain injury to their beating arm.
Update
On December 10 the Management of Port Headland Detention facility apparently released a press statement denying that "electric cattle prods" were in use at the center: however, the statement does not explicity deny that Tasers are in use or available there.
Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:10 am ::
