A newly released video showing an unarmed Aboriginal man being tasered 13 times by police in Perth has sparked anger across Australia. The incident occurred in 2008 at a detention facility, where nine officers surrounded the man after he refused to consent to a strip search.
The video, released as part of a report on taser use by Western Australian police, has drawn sharp criticism from state officials. Premier Colin Barnett condemned the incident as an 'unjustified use of excessive force,' while the attorney general expressed surprise that no charges were filed against the officers involved.
The attorney general also promised to review guidelines for taser use, emphasizing that the devices should only be deployed in dangerous, life-threatening situations. The report highlighted a growing tendency among police to use tasers for compliance and against individuals resisting arrest, rather than as an alternative to firearms.
In a separate incident in Sydney, a man who allegedly threatened police with knives died after being tasered. Police stated they are 'very comfortable' with the circumstances surrounding his death.
