Nova Scotia Justice Minister Cecil Clarke is mandating that police in NS must only use their tasers when they are threatened with violence or when the public is in danger. Although this appears to be common sense, it means that the tasers are no longer to be used as a pain compliance tool.
Considering that tasers are legally defined as 'firearms' in Canada, this direction is (technically speaking) redundant. But the fact that he has to provide this explicit direction is an indication of the occasional misuse that has occurred in NS.
All in all - given the level of propaganda from Taser - this is a very good first step. But although it addresses most of the misuse and abuse, it leaves open plenty of room for continued over-use. And it fails to acknowledge the issue of the exact level of risk for various population groups, including the ill-defined group of 'those at risk'.
Chronicle Herald [LINK]
Canadian Press [LINK]
Canada.com [LINK]
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