The New Zealand Police look set to introduce Taser stun guns after the completion of a year-long trial in September.
Police reported 111 deployments between September 2006 and July 2007, with Tasers discharged 19 times.
Police National Operations Manager Superintendent Tony McLeod said districts that had Tasers available had increased confidence to resolve incidents with less chance of injury.
"The initial data reviewed seems to support staff experience that, a lot of the time, the presence of the Taser is enough to influence behaviour, without resorting to discharge of the Taser," Mr McLeod said.
A recent high-profile death of a Polish man in Canada has raised fears that the weapon is not suitable or safe.
Critics of Tasers believe the New Zealand trial lacked transparency and in many instances the guns were used outside of standard operating procedures for the weapons.
Campaign Against the Taser (CATT) spokesperson, Marie Dyhrberg said the serious issues to be determined are whether the police needed an immobilizing device as part of their armoury -- and if they do, what device they should use and under what circumstances.
"These issues can only be decided with full investigation and debate from many sectors of the public, including relevant professional and community groups," Ms Dyhrberg said.
The Auckland District Law Society's Think Twice About Taser's report sees no reason to rush Tasers into service. Their Public Issues Committee was not totally opposed to the use of the Taser but there remained some concerns.
"Overseas experience and recent events covered in the media show that there is a tendency for police to develop a casual attitude towards these weapons and the trial shows the potential for similar attitudes to develop amongst New Zealand police," Professor Noel Cox said in the report.
"The ends must not be allowed to justify the means and this is why, if they are to be introduced, there needs to be strict guidelines," he said.
The United Nations has called the use of TaserX26 weapons, which provoke extreme pain, a form of torture that could also cause death.
CATT said introducing the Taser could expose New Zealand to breaching our obligations under international law, as well as the Bill of Rights.
The New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses is strongly opposed to Police using the Taser, fearing it could be used on people in various states of mental health crisis.
The college are calling for wide consultation with the mental health sector, including service users, service providers, and mental health professionals prior to any decision to extend the use of Tasers.
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