CCHR NZ latest newsletter

Mental Health Patients targetted by Tasers

Te Pou expresses concern that a University of Auckland study shows that Tasers are more than twice as likely to be discharged at mental health emergencies than at criminal arrests. The study also finds that Maori and Pacific people are far more likely to be Tasered than Europeans.

The study also found that police have used Tasers in mental health facilities in laser painting mode - which is one step away from the Taser being discharged.

Te Pou Chief Executive Robyn Shearer says “Using Tasers against people with mental health issues not only contravenes basic human rights but in many cases appears to be disproportionately targeted at Maori and Pacific – even if the intentions of the police are not racially motivated.”

We don't know why Te Pou are surprised at this given we operate a system where mental health patients have fewer rights than criminals and where Maori and Pacific people are always subject to greater use of force and abuse. The fact that these other abuses are known about but not addressed doesn't give us any confidence that this one will be addressed either.