PETALING JAYA: The police force adopted the use of stun guns and tasers several years ago, but they are used sparingly despite the critical need to arm all men-in-blue with it.
The use of non-lethal weapons such as stun guns by police should be encouraged, especially to de-escalate threats from unarmed aggressors or those brandishing non-firearm weapons, says Crime Consciousness and Public Safety Society chairman Datuk Mohamad Anil Shah Abdullah.
He said in situations where an aggressor is psychologically on edge, intoxicated or overcome by emotions, tasers can work well to incapacitate them without causing serious physical harm or death, which firearms may cause.
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“When police first responders are summoned to a case of a person running amok and who is armed, speedy action is important.
“The aggressor, who might not be in the right state of mind, could turn out to be violent and unpredictable.
“The public wants such situations resolved promptly. However, there are strict procedures police personnel need to observe in ensuring the aggressor is subdued without getting hurt or killed,” said the retired police senior assistant commissioner, who was a trainer for taser use during his tenure in the force.
On Feb 15, four policemen aged between 20 and 50 were injured during a standoff for several hours with a 32-year-old man at Taman Seri Astana in Sungai Petani.
Mohamad Anil said policemen cannot simply open fire unless the lives of bystanders and their own are under imminent threat.
“The last thing a policeman wants to do is kill. They are only human and have families of their own.
“This is where tasers can prove to be extremely useful in tackling an aggressor without fatal consequences.
“Non-lethal weapons can avoid or minimise fatalities in the process of apprehending a violent suspect,” he added.
Mohamad Anil said as the cost of tasers is high, arming every personnel would be expensive.
He said the police force should at least ensure those who go on duty at crime hotspots are equipped with tasers it currently has in its arsenal before gradually increasing the numbers.
He said there are also other equally effective non-lethal weapons on the market that the police force should consider acquiring, such as the Bolawrap.
The hand-held device works by firing a bundle of cords that wraps around a person’s arms or legs and restrains them without causing serious injury.
Criminologist and former senior police officer R. Balasubramaniam, who was also a taser gun trainer during his days in the police force, said every personnel on active duty in the field should be equipped with both primary and secondary weapons, giving them a choice to use the best option against the threats they may face.
“Having all the necessary weapons would not leave them in a dilemma on how to react in, say, a case of a man who runs amok.
“Training, risk assessment and other simulations are essential too in preparing personnel for emergencies.
“Inexperience and insufficient training can lead to casualties,” he said.
Tasers, according to Balasubramaniam, are highly effective because they can subdue aggressors effectively, allowing for detention with minimal physical force.
Several police personnel in the Klang Valley who spoke to The Star shared that while taser guns and pepper sprays are available, they are not carried by every personnel and are only brought out in certain situations.
One policeman said that currently, personnel on duty are issued only pistols, while those in patrol car units are equipped with submachine guns, namely the Heckler & Koch MP5.
When threats escalate, like during police roadblocks, personnel can carry M-16 assault rifles and wear bulletproof vests, according to another policeman.
Police batons, or T-batons, and shields, though available, are rarely carried except in cases of riots or managing large crowds, he added.
