Haar says there is “almost zero” regulation globally of the industry that produces these weapons. In Australia, there are no nationally enforced standards for their use. In some states, police go to great lengths not to share what weapons they have or how they’re used.
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In Victoria, police have refused to publicly provide the make and model of their rubber bullets and other weapons even to the state’s parliamentarians due to “operational and community safety considerations”.
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Contracts worth millions for these weapons are often with third-party distributors rather than the manufacturers, obscuring what police have access to.
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During coronial inquests, after baton rounds and other weapons may have contributed to deaths, Victoria police have sought suppression orders that bar media from describing any details of weaponry.
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In some states, details about Tasers have been suppressed during inquests, including the training materials given to officers.
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Guardian Australia approached each force in the country for a list of the manufacturer and model of their less lethal weapons but all declined to provide one, with most citing operational safety.