The news flashed out "Call for Tasers to be issued to police" The call was not from the public however ,it was from the police union. Despite the reported number of deaths overseas from the use of stun guns and despite the increased useage of the guns where they have been issued, the police union has renewed calls for Tasers to be issued in Tasmania. It comes on the back of a police officer being stabbed while attending a call from mental health  workers in regard to an incident this week.  Fortunately the police officer is expected to recover from what appears to be quite terrible wounds.

The community is rightly shocked by news like this and no doubt police officers are highly concerned about their safety. Policing is a dangerous occupation especially where alcohol,amphetamines,or some mental health patients are involved. It should be remembered though these incidents are rare and are not an everyday, month or year occurance. Tasmailbag has been told protocols for dealing with mental health patients  are being developed by Tasmania police as well as other agencies.

We will have to wait to see what the story is in relation to this latest incident. The police union should do likewise instead of exciting public opinion by fudging the truth in relation to these dangerous new weapons. The opportunistic ploy of lobbying for Tasers while their collegue is not in any position to speakof the events leading tohis terrible attack is shallow and cynical in the extreme. There are two sides to every story and so far we the public have heard neither side.

The acting police minister Lyn Thorpe all but gave police a green light on Win News (tues 8th Sep)saying they can have whatever hardware they want. No scrutiny,no informed debate,just populist political rhetoric for the baying mob. Ms Thorpe would be well advised to look to America to see the death count from Tasers and to see the ever rising abuse of these weapons in the hands of some police.

Tasmailbag is very concerned to hear that this may have been a situation that might have been avoided had proper protocols  for dealing with mental health patients been folowed. Only time and the release of information from police will substantiate or put to rest this rumour. In the meantime cool heads should prevail over this highly contentious issue of introducing stun guns on to our streets. We are after all the safest state in Australia according to Tasmania Police.

Our thoughts are with the police officer and his family. We wish him a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are also with the mental health  patient who is languishing in a prison cell  instead of a hospital.