Police union defends 'very safe' Tasers
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'Very, very safe': The Police Union is defending the use of Tasers (AAP: Dave Hunt, file photo)
The West Australian Police Union has vehemently defended the use of stun guns after an Aboriginal man caught fire after being tasered in the state's far east.
Police Internal Affairs is investigating the incident involving 36-year-old Ronald Mitchell in the Goldfields town of Warburton on Monday.
It is alleged Mr Mitchell was threatening officers with a container of fuel and a cigarette lighter when he was tasered.
Mr Mitchell burst into flames and suffered third degree burns to his face, arms and chest. He remains in a critical condition in Royal Perth Hospital's burns unit.
Police Union president Russell Armstrong says officers are given guidelines for the use of Tasers, but ultimately they need to use their own judgement.
"Tasers are very, very safe. They don't kill people, the only people to have died from Tasers are the ones with medical conditions, heart problems and drug users," he said.
"It's a well known fact and we have 100 per cent confidence in the Tasers."
Mr Armstrong, says while it was an unfortunate outcome, the officers did their best in trying circumstances.
"There certainly is standard operating procedures with all Tasers but this will be subject to an inquiry," he said.
"We fully support the police officers and their actions. It was a life-threatening situation for them."
Meanwhile, three people are facing charges in relation to yesterday's incident.
An 18-year-old Warburton woman has been charged with two counts of assaulting a public officer.
Two boys, aged 12 and 13, have been charged with possessing a harmful substance.
It is not yet clear if the lighter or the Taser caused Mr Mitchell to catch fire, but police say it is likely he will be charged over the incident once he is well enough.
Yesterday, the Aboriginal Legal Service in Western Australia called for a ban on the police stun guns.
Aboriginal Legal Service chief executive Dennis Eggington said there was mounting proof that Tasers were dangerous.
"I think that the jury's still out on whether or not Taser is a lethal weapon in itself, particularly if you've got a part of the population that is very vulnerable to this type of electric shocks," he said.
Mr Eggington said the man was a petrol sniffer, and Tasers should not be used on Aboriginal people who suffer from a range of health problems.
"The idea of a man getting burnt and Tasers being used while there's volatile substances around is of great concern to the ALS," he said.
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