Widespread support for Tasers
Support for Tasers is widespread among police, according to the Police Association Members’ Survey conducted by Nielsen Research late last year.
The public are also strongly in favour of police being able to use Tasers. According to the research, 93% of police support using Tasers.
There is strong public backing with 75% of the public also approving of their use.
The police sub-group that favoured the use of the devices the most were General Duties Branch (GDB) frontline staff – with an overwhelming 96% in support. While support was high across all areas and districts, Waitemata, with 96% provided the highest. Constables and those who had less than 10 years service indicated a 95% level of support for Taser use.
Inspectors and above and those who had been in the force for 20 years or more were less supportive of the idea, registering 76% support.
Strong support from injured officers
Perhaps not surprisingly, members who had been threatened with a firearm were particularly in favour of being able to use Tasers.
Over half (52%) of the constables surveyed were involved in an incident in the last year they believed could have been better resolved had they been carrying a Taser.
