By BRIDGET CARTER
New Zealand police are investigating claims that there are faults in a new type of handcuff that may be introduced next year.
Hinged handcuffs used in Queensland are one of two types being considered for issue to frontline police here as soon as January, subject to official approval.
But
yesterday, Inspector Jacquie Witham of Queensland said there were problems with Chubb's hinged, folding handcuffs.
Some would not lock, and others had bent and would not fasten, she said.
They were introduced in 1998 to replace chain-link handcuffs, the kind used in New Zealand for more than 40 years.
A Chubb's spokesman in Australia, Ray Smith, said he did not know of any complaints in the past year that the cuffs were faulty.
But a New Zealand police spokesman on staff safety, Inspector Steve Hinds, said police here would wait until Queensland had sorted out the problems before the handcuffs were tested here.
Queensland police had reported that the new design was practical, and they might ask another provider to make them, he said.
"If they come up with something they are happy with, we will go with them," he said.
New handcuffs were one of the recommendations under a present review of police enforcement equipment.
Another option was a "rigid" handcuff used in Britain, featuring a 25cm solid, plastic-covered bar that linked the two cuffs.
Frontline police in Wellington had tested them and found they worked well.
Both varieties cost about $100 a set and provided better control over a struggling offender, he said.
Chain cuffs were "floppy" and had no grip.
Mr Hinds said neither design had yet been approved, but he would recommend that one of them be in use early next year.
Other equipment on the list for investigation was female-specific body armour, prompted by the rising numbers of women in the service. Pepper spray was being reviewed after its introduction three years ago.
National manager of operations Neville Matthews said police needed to conduct a review of lethal-weapon options to find out what was on the market.
"It is prudent to look at other things for frontline safety."
