Professional paper
Legal and actual possibilities of using the electric stun gun in the Republic of Croatia
Željko Mršić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7662-2074
; Police Academy, Police College, MoIRC, Zagreb Croatia
Ivan Arbutina
; Police Academy, Police College, MoIRC, Zagreb Croatia
Abstract
The paper points out some dubious moments in the use of coercive means by the police, which are based on handguns and batons, and encourages the introduction of new technologies in this area as well. One of the technological breakthroughs is the introduction of an electric stun gun, i.e. a weapon with an electric discharge. Some inconsistencies and even contradictions are pointed out, as well as the normative deficit in that area and the need for a systematic and complete normative regulation of the matter, but also for a redefinition of some other police powers from the Police Duties and Powers Act. The mode of action of the electric stun gun with all its advantages, but also disadvantages, has been explained. Numerous objections to the use of this device have been mentioned, in professional circles as well as the public, and the opinion of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has been presented in a particularly careful manner. The experiences on the practical aspects of the use of this weapon have been gathered from ten European Union countries and seven German federal states, and on the basis of all that has been stated, a recommendation has been made to introduce this device into wider use.
Keywords
electric stun gun; police powers; coercive means; European practise
Hrčak ID:
276226
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2022.
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