- QPS is the first law enforcement jurisdiction outside of the USA to purchase and possess the Taser 10.
- The Taser 10 provides greater opportunity for officers to use less-than-lethal force during confrontations
- 65 Taser 10 weapons have been purchased to allow a trial
- Significant increase in accuracy and effectiveness
- These capabilities alone increase officer safety
Minister for Police Mark Ryan and Commissioner Katarina Carroll have announced a significant trial of the latest state of the art taser technology.
Queensland Police recently purchased 65 Taser 10 units for use by selected officers across the state.
QPS is the first law enforcement jurisdiction outside of the USA to purchase and possess the Taser 10.
These innovative weapons will provide officers with an extended range (13.7m max), more than tripling the current range, and multi-shot capability.
This will provide a significant increase in officer safety which may result, in some circumstances, a potential reduction in lethal use of force application.
The upgrade has the potential to save lives while enhancing QPS capability in protecting the community, officers and persons of interest.
It follows the roll out of the internationally awarded but locally designed Integrated Load Bearing Vests (ILBV) across the state.
The new ILBVs combine the existing capabilities of ballistic, reflectorised and load bearing with integrated edged weapon protection capability into everyday wear.
These innovations further enhance the Queensland Police Service’s internationally renowned reputation as a world leader when it comes the early adoption of new technologies as evidenced by the rollout to all officers of modern technologies like QLiTE devices and the latest iterations of body worn cameras.
Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:
“Training of our police requires the best possible facilities and equipment, and the Government is committed to doing everything in its power to achieve that.
“State of the art equipment and training facilities transfer into keeping our officers safe as well as the community of Queensland.
“This trial of state of the art technology further enhances the QPS’ commitment to delivering world-class policing services into the future.
Quotes attributable to Commissioner Katarina Carroll:
“If we give our officers the best possible training and equipment, it means that they are able to go into our communities and serve to the best of their abilities”.
“The introduction of the Taser 10 and ILBV give our officers immense capability to respond to dangerous situations while keeping them as safe as we possibly can.
“The Taser 10, for instance, will provide an effective longer range less lethal option to save lives and reduce harm to police and the community”.
“The ILBV is an incredibly important step towards protecting our officers on the front line. The new vests combine ballistic, reflectorised, load bearing and edged weapon protection capabilities into one”.
“Both of these pieces of equipment alone increase officer safety exponentially.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers:
“The Police Union brought this advanced technology to the attention of the Government and I appreciate the Police Minister and Premier are investing in new equipment for frontline police.
“I’ve always said our first response police should be supplied with the best and latest equipment that comes on the market.
“The new taser model provides a longer range for the probes to reach an offender enabling police to have greater accuracy and keep a safe distance from violent people or those with sharp weapons. It will improve officer safety and allow us to protect the community better.
“Research conducted by the Union suggests Queensland will be the first jurisdiction outside the United States to trial the new generation Axon taser.
“I thank the police who have worked on this proposal and developed the training modules to ensure an efficient roll out of the new taser during this trial.”
Fast facts:
- QPS is the first law enforcement jurisdiction outside of the USA to purchase and possess the Taser 10
- Multi-shot capability (no reload under stress), officers may consider engaging a person of interest with an edged weapon at a safer distance than currently provided with the existing taser
- Current tasers have a maximum effective range of 4.5 metres compared to 13.7m with the new weapon
- 10 individually targeted probes
- Audible and visual warning alert
