Hog-ties and tasers
Posted Dec 13, 2010 03:52:09 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Human rights groups are concerned about a report by an R-C-M-P watchdog that is calling for restraint on the use of restraints.
The Commission for Public Complaints Against the R-C-M-P is calling on the Mounties not to hog-tie people.
It found the generally forbidden technique was used in 40 per cent of cases in which someone died after being zapped with a Taser.
The report also reveals “a number of instances” among 10 deaths that were probed where officers who fired a Taser were not certified to use it.
The Canadian Press obtained a copy of the interim report under the Access to Information Act.
Hilary Homes of Amnesty International says the report’s findings are a reason for concern.
She says it’s a good example of why strong minimum standards are needed to govern police actions.
David Eby of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association says the information in the report is important and should be widely available.
He wonders why it took a media request to obtain it.
