Less Lethal? Projectiles Linked to Deaths Globally

At least three people have died in Australia within a four-month period after being shot with "less lethal" projectiles and stun guns. These incidents have prompted inquests and civil cases that could significantly alter police use-of-force policies. Police departments maintain that projectiles such as bean-bag and foam baton rounds offer a less harmful option than firearms.

However, these less-lethal weapons have been associated with deaths worldwide. Critics argue that their proliferation in police arsenals has not been met with sufficient accountability or oversight. In Victoria, Mark Smith died in July 2023 after being shot with less-lethal projectiles and Tasered. Two months later, Krista Kach died in NSW after being Tasered and struck by a bean-bag round. Steven Woodhouse also died in November 2023, allegedly from bean-bag rounds and a Taser deployed by the Victorian Critical Incident Response Team.

Legal actions are underway, with Steven Woodhouse's sister filing a supreme court case alleging catastrophic injuries caused by police. Krista Kach's family has questioned the prolonged timeline for her inquest and the use of bean-bag rounds on a woman experiencing a mental health crisis. The NSW police have since reinstated the use of bean-bag rounds after a temporary suspension following Kach's death.

Investigations into police practices have revealed potential issues. A report from the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission previously criticized the Victorian Cirt for inaccurate use-of-force recording and inconsistent human rights charter adherence. Separately, two protesters are pursuing legal action against Victoria police over incidents in 2021 where they allege they were shot with projectiles with little warning.