Done By Law

Lethal deployment of ‘less-than-lethal’ force: Tasers and police homicides

In early March Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has signed off on a roll-out of tasers, stun-guns which administers an electric shock of 50,000 volts, to the whole police force. The police argue that taser provide police with an extra tactic to resolve high-risk incidents without lethal force or with ‘less-than-lethal’ force. The death of 23 year old Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti in Sydney on Sunday 18 March after police fired several taser at him has prompted calls for Victoria Police to postpone their roll out. Tonight on Done By Law we talk to Dr Thalia Anthony a Senior Lecturer at UTS about the risk the normalisation of tasers in policing presents and the need for independent oversight of police assault and homicide.