Transit Officers/Tasers any inroads?
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:22 am
Morning All,
Just reading through Christine Teague's research paper titled 'An Ambience of Power? Challenges Inherent in the Role of the Public Transport Transit Officer'. Highly recommended read for anyone who wants an unbiased incite into the TO role.
Although Teague's research highlights various problematic issues faced by TO's in there daily interactions with the travelling public. I found the following very relevant to the subject matter.
One of the most frequent precursors to a TO injury occurs when the TO is required to make an arrest. The injury may occur when the passenger to be arrested resists or flees, and the TO gives chase in dark or treacherous circumstances such as railway reserves and tunnels, or when other passengers, maybe friends or family of the original person of concern, involve themselves in an affray around the precipitating action of the arrest.In circumstances where capsicum spray is the primary way of enforcing compliance, with batons used as a defence tool, group members may feel that they can take on the two TOs with impunity, certainly in the first instance.
It is my personal belief that if we want TO's to protect us whilst on public transport, we should equip them with all the tools necessary to carry out there role both effectively and most importantly safely. Im not saying that we should arm TO's with firearms, but lets give them and train them with the Taser as it is the most effective tool to immobilise offenders often not affected by OC spray.
I would be keen to know if any inroads have been made by the unions/PTA with regards to issuing TO's with Tasers as it has been a topic for consideration since 2009.
Just reading through Christine Teague's research paper titled 'An Ambience of Power? Challenges Inherent in the Role of the Public Transport Transit Officer'. Highly recommended read for anyone who wants an unbiased incite into the TO role.
Although Teague's research highlights various problematic issues faced by TO's in there daily interactions with the travelling public. I found the following very relevant to the subject matter.
One of the most frequent precursors to a TO injury occurs when the TO is required to make an arrest. The injury may occur when the passenger to be arrested resists or flees, and the TO gives chase in dark or treacherous circumstances such as railway reserves and tunnels, or when other passengers, maybe friends or family of the original person of concern, involve themselves in an affray around the precipitating action of the arrest.In circumstances where capsicum spray is the primary way of enforcing compliance, with batons used as a defence tool, group members may feel that they can take on the two TOs with impunity, certainly in the first instance.
It is my personal belief that if we want TO's to protect us whilst on public transport, we should equip them with all the tools necessary to carry out there role both effectively and most importantly safely. Im not saying that we should arm TO's with firearms, but lets give them and train them with the Taser as it is the most effective tool to immobilise offenders often not affected by OC spray.
I would be keen to know if any inroads have been made by the unions/PTA with regards to issuing TO's with Tasers as it has been a topic for consideration since 2009.