Taser stun guns have only been available to Southern district frontline police officers for a week but have already been used twice in two days.
A Mosgiel woman was tasered by an armed offenders squad member about 11.25pm on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Invercargill police a Taser on a 45-year-old Invercargill man.
The Mosgiel woman, who was armed with a knife and later referred to mental health services in Dunedin, was "subdued for her own safety", Dunedin emergency response commander Inspector Alastair Dickie said yesterday.
The Invercargill man was tasered when he confronted police with a weapon after a brawl in the city early on Sunday.
The Dunedin armed offenders squad was called about 8.25pm to assist Mosgiel police with a woman who had locked herself in a Mosgiel house and was threatening to harm herself.
She was armed with a knife and had swallowed pills, Insp Dickie said.
The police negotiation team spent three hours talking to her, and when it became clear she was not going to open her door and prompt action was needed to safeguard her wellbeing, the squad forcibly entered the house, he said.
"Her behaviour was such that prompt action was required to subdue her for her own safety and to prevent her from self-harming.
"The Taser was used with immediate effect." St John paramedics attended all armed offenders squad callouts, he said.
Operational review carried out after every deployment.
The paramedic at the house attended to the woman immediately before she was taken to Dunedin Hospital.
Insp Dickie said he was comfortable with the Taser being deployed even though the woman had mental health problems.
"The Taser was the best and most appropriate tactical option available, as the use of capsicum spray could be ineffective or delayed in such circumstances.
"As always, the safety of people is paramount and the Taser was utilised according to the stringent operating procedures developed."
The armed offenders squad now carries Tasers to all callouts.
Taser guns:
• Delivers a 50,000-volt electrical pulse, temporarily disabling its target.
• 72 weapons allocated to Southern district; Southland 26, Dunedin-Clutha 24, Otago rural area 19, training purposes 3.
• 300 officers in Southern district will be trained in Taser use by the end of June.
• Only fired after permission from senior sergeant or incident commander.
• Has camera underneath handgrip to record audio and video of its use.
