89-707: The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) is an Australian fingerprint and palm print database and matching system to assist law enforcement agencies across Australia and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to establish the identity of persons and to help solve crimes and for other purposes. NAFIS was established in 1986, and an upgraded system commenced operations in April 2001 and provides technological improvements in fingerprint matching . It has shown to be very reliable in fingerprint matching . This Australian government-related article
178-485: A coroner , transporting prisoners, managing the jails , and carrying out executions (through the employment of an anonymous hangman ). Currently, no Australian state provides for capital punishment. A government department (usually called the Department of Corrections or similar) now runs the prison system and the coroner's office handles coronal matters. In most states, the sheriff is now largely responsible for enforcing
267-498: A badge of office and discipline-enforcer, so some modern sources call this weapon a "bosun's cosh". The term "blackjack" is sometimes applied by early 20th-century maritime sources to a lead weight knotted or woven into the end of a short piece of rope that serves as a handle, though most sources would consider this weapon a type of slungshot . In the 20th century newer shorter (and more readily concealable) designs emerged that were predominantly made of stitched or braided leather, with
356-403: A baton, in a concealed fashion. According to Cap 217 (Weapons Ordinance), Laws of Hong Kong , any person who has possession of any prohibited items commits an offence, which includes expandable batons. In India and Bangladesh , police often carry a large bamboo stick called a lathi ( Odia : ବାଡ଼ି , Tamil : குறுந்தடி , Hindi : लाठी ) that is used during riot controlling or used when
445-661: A blue and white Sillitoe tartan checkered strip on the side. Historically, police fleets were composed predominantly of domestically built models such as the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon . With the demise of Holden and Ford production in Australia, fleets have grown to include models such as the Chrysler 300 , BMW 5 Series , Kia Stinger , Volkswagen Passat , Mercedes-Benz E-Class , and Hyundai Sonata . Prisoner transport vehicles are based on light commercial vehicles such as
534-460: A button lock and manually collapsing the shafts. Additionally, the baton, in the collapsed configuration, may be used as a control device against non-compliant subjects in conjunction with pain-compliance control techniques, such as to remove a driver refusing to exit his or her vehicle. It can be used as a large kubotan . The expandable baton is provided to most officers in the British police forces,
623-437: A dense (often lead ) weight attached to the end of a short shaft. A form of bludgeon , these use a handle to accelerate the dense core and transfer kinetic energy from the swing to it. The blow can be directed at any normal blunt force target, but delivered to the head induces concussion . While usually meant to stun or knock out the subject, head strikes have a high risk of causing a permanent, disabling brain injury or
712-401: A fatality. The terminology applied to these weapons can be imprecise, depends on the source and time period, and may refer to an improvised device accomplishing the same result. Blackjacks have long been a favorite of the criminal element as a concealed carry weapon, and are illegal to privately own in many jurisdictions. A late 19th-century type is a wooden shaft about one foot long, with
801-556: A few were built to withstand occasional lighter impacts. They are rarely issued to patrol officers in modern times due to their price and the other associated problems with electroshock weapons. The jitte was a Japanese Edo period police weapon consisting of a round or octagonal metal rod about 30–61 cm (12–24 in) long with a hook-like guard above the handle. It was used in a similar manner to modern police batons and it continued to be issued in Japan to some police departments until
890-404: A fixed, acrylic baton is used. Side-handled batons were issued for a while, but fell out of favour. The New York City Police Department used to use two kinds of batons depending on the time. The one for daytime was called a day-stick and was 280 mm (11 in) in length. Another baton, that was used at night, was 660 mm (26 in) long and called a night-stick, which is the origin of
979-401: A flexible spring inside the handle to impart a whip-like action to compensate for leverage and acceleration sacrificed to reduced overall length. To balance forces and minimize unintended damage, this style came to employ a flexible material such as lead shot as a weight. Law enforcement sources from the mid-20th century preferred to divide these into two categories: "blackjacks", which have
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#17328632219691068-410: A fluted handle to aid in gripping. Truncheons are often ornamented with their organizations' coats of arms . Longer truncheons are called "riot batons" because of their use in riot control . Truncheons may have developed as a marriage between the club or military mace and the staff of office / sceptre . Straight batons of rubber have a softer impact. Some of the kinetic energy bends and compresses
1157-594: A foot or more in length for delivering a shock. Many designs function like an elongated stun gun or a cattle prod, requiring the tip to be held against the target and then manually triggering a shock by a switch in the handle. Some more sophisticated designs carry a charge along the shaft's entire surface, administering a shock on contact. This later design is especially useful in preventing the officer from having their weapon grabbed and taken away by an assailant. Most batons of this design were not intended to be used as impact weapons and will break if used in this way, though
1246-856: A last resort can make arrests. In addition to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority , each state and the Northern Territory have Fisheries officers authorised to enforce State and Federal fisheries laws within their state's jurisdiction. The powers of these fisheries officers vary from State to State but generally, these officers have the power to board vessels, search vehicles, vessels, and persons and conduct arrests all in relation to fisheries laws. In some States, such as New South Wales, fisheries officers are authorised to carry personal defense equipment like their Federal counterparts. Council rangers are officers employed by local government areas in Australia to enforce
1335-464: A leather- or macramé -covered lead ball as the head. This weapon is referred to by some sources as a "sap" (derived from " sapling " due to its wood handle), or euphemistically as a "life-preserver". The term "cosh" may also originate with this weapon, being derived from the Romani word kašt , meaning "stick" or "piece of wood". The term "blackjack" referring to a hand weapon is of unknown etymology, and
1424-482: A mostly cylindrical striking head, and "saps" which have a flat, usually oval-shaped head. In common usage, however, these terms have become interchangeable, so a "sap" of this latter kind is sometimes more precisely called a flat sap, slap jack or beavertail sap to differentiate it. The sap's flat profile makes it easier to carry in a pocket and spreads its impact out over a broader area, making it less likely to break bone. However, it can also be used to strike with
1513-725: A national level. These programs collect information about crimes and pass them on to police, ensuring that the community can participate in fighting crime. Involvement of state law enforcement in suppressing Indigenous resistance to colonisation has been widely controversial. The New South Wales Mounted Police were formed following the Bathurst War between British colonists and the Wiradjuri people in 1824, and in modern Australia continue to be deployed as part of police presence at peaceful protests in many states. Across colonial Australia, police forces were mobilised in violent conflict during
1602-507: A prohibited weapon under a regulation entitled "Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted" (also capable of being referred to by its registration number: SOR 98–462). However, it is a crime under section 90 of the Criminal Code to carry any weapon, including
1691-460: A range of materials including wood, poly-carbonate, epoxy, aluminium, or a combination of materials. Some side-handle batons are one-piece design; the side-handle component and primary shaft are permanently fused together during manufacturing. One-piece designs are potentially stronger than two-piece designs, and have no risk of having a locking screw loosen from its threads. Other side-handle batons are two-piece in design (common among cheaper makes);
1780-565: A search warrant or in other specific circumstances. AFMA officers may with or without a warrant, arrest a person suspected of committing a fisheries offence or an offence against environmental law , and authorised to carry personal defense equipment. Like the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force , AFMA is overseen by the National Anti-Corruption Commission . The Australian Tax Office (ATO)
1869-437: A state government minister (usually a Minister for Police). These forces carry out uniformed policing throughout the entire state in which they operate. Other state government agencies may also have investigative or enforcement powers for specific offences within their purview, such as fisheries . The Northern Territory is the only Australian Territory with its own police force, but in Australia's other territories (including
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#17328632219691958-495: A suspect into non-resistance and that which would fracture their skull tends to be narrow and unpredictable. Second, there were problems with reliability, as resistance to cerebral concussion varies widely between individuals, and head strikes that did not disable the suspect were found to merely escalate the encounter. Officer Arthur Lamb, a well-known trainer on the baton, once stated: I've trained over 200 police departments, comprising over ten thousand men. In every class, I ask
2047-458: A suspect. Besides the head, they were also used on the elbows, wrists, shins, collarbone, and groin. The flat sap, in particular, could be used to strike large muscle groups with the edge. In the early days of use, they were favored for their ability to stun or knock a suspect unconscious with a blow to the head. By the late 1960s head-strikes with impact weapons in general were strongly discouraged by most police departments and trainers because of
2136-658: Is a revenue service responsible for tax collection throughout Australia. The ATO is overseen by the National Anti-Corruption Commission . ATO officers are provided limited law enforcement powers under the Excise Act 1901 and the Tax Administration Act 1953. AFP and ABF officers are also provided powers under these Acts. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is a standing commission to provide criminal intelligence to Federal and State law enforcement agencies and assists in criminal investigations. ACIC
2225-457: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Law enforcement in Australia Law enforcement in Australia is one of the three major components of the country's justice system, along with courts and corrections . Law enforcement officers are employed by all three levels of government – federal , state/territory , and local . Federally, the primary law enforcement agency
2314-612: Is an independent criminology research institute formed under the ACIC, with the CEO of the ACIC also serving as the director of the ACI. Like the AFP, ACIC is also part of Australia's National Intelligence Community . The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is a statutory anti-corruption commission responsible for investigating allegations of corrupt conduct by Commonwealth officials. The commission has
2403-626: Is formed under the Australian Crime Commission Act , and while the Commission itself does not have full law enforcement powers, law enforcement officers from state and federal agencies are routinely seconded to the ACIC to assist in its functions. Under the Australian Crime Commission Act ACIC members have a number of coercive powers to gather criminal intelligence. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) ,
2492-451: Is over. But if you hit him in the head and put him into a state of shock where he is almost immune to pain, and now enraged beyond reason, the only thing left for you to do is beat him into the ground. This is why so many police brutality charges came about when batons were used the old-fashioned way. As a result, civil lawsuits and claims of police brutality resulted in revised training for officers. Batons in common use by police around
2581-465: Is red to make it more visible as a signaling aid in directing traffic . In Russia, traffic batons are striped in black and white for the same reason, and in Sweden they are white. Until the mid-1990s, British police officers carried traditional wooden truncheons of a sort that had changed little from Victorian times. Since the late 1990s, the collapsible baton is issued except for public order duties, where
2670-643: Is restricted by law in many countries. In the Victorian era , police in London carried truncheons about one foot long called billy clubs . According to the Online Etymology Dictionary , this name was first recorded in 1848 as slang for a burglars' crowbar . The meaning "policeman's club" is first recorded 1856. The truncheon acted as the policeman's ' Warrant Card ' as the Royal Crest attached to it indicated
2759-402: Is subject to the same use of force regulations as the use of purpose-designed impact weapons like batons. Police officers may often choose to use such flashlights because they are viewed primarily as illumination devices; thus, if a police officer carries one in their hands during nighttime encounters with potentially violent subjects, it would be less likely to escalate the situation (by making
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2848-466: Is the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which has a wide mandate to enforce Australian criminal law and protect its national interests. There is also a number of other agencies that have powers confined to specific areas, such as customs and immigration ( Australian Border Force ), and white-collar crime ( Australian Taxation Office , Australian Competition & Consumer Commission , Australian Securities & Investments Commission ). Each branch of
2937-535: Is the large, metal D-cell Maglite , still in use by some law enforcement and security personnel. Use of such flashlights as a club or baton is generally officially discouraged by the manufacturers and law enforcement officials, but its use is an option. As with all police weapons , there have been many examples of misuse, such as in the Malice Green beating in Detroit . The use of flashlights as improvised impact weapons
3026-576: Is typically 61 cm (24 in) in length. They are derived from the tonfa , an Okinawan kobudō weapon , and are used with a similar technique (although tonfa are usually used in pairs, whereas side-handle batons are not). The best-known example is the Monadnock PR-24; "PR-24" has become a genericized trademark within the law enforcement and security communities for this type of product. It can be held by: Side-handle batons are made in both fixed and collapsible models and may be constructed from
3115-409: Is typically composed of a cylindrical outer shaft containing telescoping inner shafts (typically 2 or 3, depending on the design) that lock into each other when expanded. The shafts are usually made of steel, but lightweight baton models may have their shafts made from other materials such as aluminum alloy. Expandable batons may have a solid tip at the outer end of the innermost shaft; the purpose of
3204-667: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) ACT Policing . The AFP also provide local policing the Australian external territories . While ACT Policing is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Federal Police, the following policing agencies are regulated by their respective state or territory government and are highly visible: In recent years, the states and territories have returned the responsibility of recovering court-ordered fines to their sheriffs. In practice,
3293-618: The Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory . The boundaries between the two levels of law enforcement are somewhat flexible, and both state and federal police cooperate on or transfer cases between each other depending on the specific circumstances. The AFP also conducts operations overseas. These include providing liaison officers to various overseas posts to assist in relations with various police forces overseas, providing community policing to assist in
3382-754: The Australian Capital Territory ) law enforcement is handled by the Federal Government, specifically the Australian Federal Police . Local governments may also employ their authorised officers, commonly known as council rangers , to enforce local government by-laws or certain state laws pertaining solely to the local government jurisdiction in which they're employed. Council rangers do not have full police powers unless they are sworn as special constables . State police officers and Australian Federal Police officers routinely carry firearms, other state and federal law enforcement officers may carry firearms or other items for personal defence depending on their agency or
3471-545: The Australian Capital Territory , Jervis Bay Territory and Australian external territories is contracted to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Each state has a Department of Corrections which looks after the jails and prisoners. In some states, local governments employ by-laws officers or rangers to enforce local by-laws or ordinances relating to such matters as parking, dog ownership, retailing, littering , or water usage. These local government officers are not considered to be police forces as they generally only have
3560-667: The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has its own military police which operates under the Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU) . The ADF Investigative Service also forms part of the JMPU and is the primary agency for complex investigations that fall under the Defence Force Discipline Act . General law enforcement duties are generally the responsibility of state police forces, who are in turn responsible to
3649-454: The Australian frontier wars and were heavily involved in the many Indigenous fatalities that led to sharp decline of Indigenous populations since colonisation. The Queensland Native Police Force alone were responsible for an estimated 24,000 "violent Aboriginal deaths" between 1859 and 1897, as calculated by professor Raymond Evans in 2009. Slavery in Australia was sanctioned by law (before being banned in 1901 following Federation ) and
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3738-771: The Ford Ranger , Toyota Hilux , Holden Colorado , Mercedes Vito , or Volkswagen Transporter . A wide range of vehicles are used for unmarked purposes to blend in with civilian vehicles. Emergency vehicle lighting differs across Australian jurisdictions and may vary based on law enforcement functions (e.g. parks compliance, fisheries, local law enforcement, etc.). However, primary law enforcement agencies utilise blue and red flashing warning lights. Most Australian police services have mounted police units that are prominently used for ceremonial purposes, although in New South Wales , South Australia , Western Australia , and Victoria
3827-530: The Queensland Government . At the conclusion of the inquiry, several senior police figures and government ministers were charged and jailed for various corruption offences. The inquiry led to the resignation of then Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen , who was later charged with perjury before the case was abandoned due to a hung jury . In the mid-1990s, a Royal Commission was established to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct within
3916-455: The Rodney King beating. It is a version of the side-handle baton released in the mid-1990s. It tries to address some of the disadvantages of straight, side and expandable batons and combine them with the strengths of the aforementioned. An expandable baton (also referred to variously as a collapsible baton , telescopic baton , tactical baton , spring cosh , ASP , or extendable )
4005-730: The Royal Australian Navy , policing functions are undertaken by Coxswains . In the Royal Australian Air Force , security and law enforcement duties are undertaken by Security Forces and Airfield Defence personnel. Along with the independent service police forces is the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) , a special ADF unit made up of Investigators from each service's police and tasked with investigating more serious military offences. All ADF policing agencies come under
4094-448: The 1970s, a common use of the police baton was to strike a suspect's head with a full-force overhand motion in order to stun them or knock them unconscious by cerebral concussion , similar to the pre-baton practice of buffaloing with the handle of a revolver . However, this practice had two major liabilities. First, there was a high risk and incidence of death or permanent injury, as the difference in force between that required to concuss
4183-443: The AFP does not have primary jurisdiction. Unlike AFP Officers, Border Force Officers do not have fully vested federal police powers, and can only exercise arrest and detain powers at airport and seaport jurisdictions. They may, however, detain persons for state or federal crimes or warrants until that person can be presented to a federal or state law enforcement officer with the appropriate powers. Australian Border Force officers have
4272-601: The ANZPAA Board on cross-jurisdictional policing initiatives that help enhance community safety and security. ANZPAA's strategic direction is set by ANZPAA’s board and the Australia New Zealand Council of Police Professionalisation (ANZCoPP, formerly Australasian Police Professional Standards Committee, APPSC). The Australasian Police Professional Standards Committee (APPSC) was an organisation that served all police jurisdictions around Australia and New Zealand. It
4361-471: The French bâton (stick), derived from Old French Baston , from Latin bastum . As a weapon a baton may be used defensively (to block ) or offensively (to strike , jab , or bludgeon), and it can aid in the application of armlocks . The usual striking or bludgeoning action is not produced by a simple and direct hit, as with an ordinary blunt object, but rather by bringing the arm down sharply while allowing
4450-472: The New South Wales Police Service (later changed to New South Wales Police Force ). The commission found that there was “systematic and entrenched” corruption within the organization, with adverse findings being made against 284 officers, seven of whom were jailed for various offences. By agreement between the various commissioners, most police cars in Australia are predominantly white, with
4539-546: The US, such as the Baltimore , Denver , Sacramento , Long Beach , Santa Ana , Philadelphia , San Francisco , and Riverside Police Departments. They also are used by NYPD Auxiliary Police officers, as well as many Military Police forces around the world. Side-handle batons (sometimes referred to as T-batons) are batons with a short side handle at a right angle to the shaft, about 150 mm (6 in) from one end. The main shaft
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#17328632219694628-555: The authority to carry firearms when trained. In practice, only maritime, counter-terrorism, and investigation officers carry firearms. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) provides fisheries enforcement in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone , officers are authorised under the Fisheries Management Act 1991 to board and search vessels, and search vehicles and persons suspected of committing fisheries offences and may also search shore-based installation under
4717-468: The bulb end pointing from the thumb side of the hand, such that it is pointing outward from the body when held palm upward. When wielded as a club, the bulb end points inward when the hand is palm upward, and the grip is closely choked to the bulb end. Another advantage to using a flashlight as a club is that in poorly lit situations it can be used to initially dazzle the eyes of an opponent. Law enforcement officers often deliberately shine flashlight beams into
4806-533: The by-laws (local laws in Western Australia ); of those local governments and a limited range of state laws relating to such matters as litter control, animal control , dog and cat laws, fire control, off-road vehicles, emergency management, and parking. Unless they are also sworn in as special constables rangers do not have full police powers. Council rangers are also referred to as local laws officers in some of Australia's eastern states. Most Council rangers have
4895-579: The civil orders and fines of the court by seizing and selling the property of judgment debtors who do not satisfy the debt, providing court security, enforcing arrest warrants, evictions, taking juveniles into custody, and running the jury system. In some states the duties of the Sheriff also extends to courtroom security. Some state sheriffs can also apply a wide range of sanctions ranging from suspending driver's licenses and car registration through to wheel clamping and arranging community service orders, and as
4984-399: The condition in which they're deployed. While on duty, an armed law enforcement officer's duty belt generally consists of a handgun , Taser , expandable baton , pepper spray , a set of handcuffs , ammunition magazines, gloves, torch , and a two-way radio . The primary federal law enforcement agency in Australia is the Australian Federal Police . The AFP was created in 1979, having been
5073-739: The development of foreign law enforcement agencies, and contributing to peacekeeping operations such as the RAMSI Mission in the Solomon Islands and the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus . The AFP forms part of Australia's National Intelligence Community . The Australian Border Force is responsible for customs and immigration enforcement and border protection at Australia's ports as well as in Australian waters, and conducts investigations where
5162-441: The device, is used to strike windows and/or windscreens of the vehicle to either gain entry or to stop the driver from seeing where they are going in circumstances where the officer has hit the screen while the vehicle is still in motion. The advantages of a collapsible baton over a fixed baton are numerous: Expandable batons have some disadvantages: Since early law enforcement professionals were very reliant on their batons there
5251-844: The dual (and competing) goals of control effectiveness and safety (for both officer and subject). A straight, fixed-length baton (also commonly referred to as a "straightstick") is the oldest and simplest police baton design, known as far back as ancient Egypt . It consists of little more than a long cylinder with a molded, turned or wrapped grip, usually with a slightly thicker or tapering shaft and rounded tip. They are often made of hardwood, but in modern times are available in other materials such as aluminium, acrylic, and dense plastics and rubber. They range in size from short clubs less than 30 cm (1 ft) in length to 90-centimetre-long (3 ft) "riot batons" commonly used in civil disturbances or by officers mounted on horseback. Straightsticks tend to be heavier and have more weight concentrated in
5340-412: The earliest text reference is 1889. A type used by 19th and early 20th century sailors for both self-defense and aggression was weighted with a lead ball at one or both ends of a piece of baleen , which was then wrapped in woven or plaited marline or codline and varnished over. Some carefully made examples were likely to have been used by a boatswain or ship's master-at-arms or ship's mate as
5429-468: The early 20th century. The jitte eventually inspired an early form of expandable baton called a tokushu keibo in the 1960s. Some non-purpose-built items have been used by law enforcement over the centuries as impact weapons. Some examples include: Although the Kel-Lite in the 1970s appears to have been the third flashlight designed specifically to be useful as an emergency weapon, the best-known example
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#17328632219695518-503: The edge for more focused impact, though this was discouraged by most police departments for precisely this reason. Alternatively, some variants use lead shot, powdered metal, or even sand for the weight inside the head, usually called a "soft sap", which reduces the likelihood of bone fractures, particularly of the skull. Blackjacks and saps were popular among law enforcement for a time due to their low profile, small size, and effectiveness in very close range , such as when grappling with
5607-499: The eyes of suspects at night to cause temporary night-blindness as a preemptive defensive measure, whether or not the individual is likely to behave violently. The weight of a flashlight makes it a clumsy baton, unable to be swung swiftly. Batons are legal for sworn law enforcement and military in most countries around the world. However, the legality of civilian carry for purpose-built batons varies greatly by country, and by local jurisdictions. There are no restrictions about batons to
5696-479: The general public, but private security guards can only carry wooden or rubber batons (no length is specified) according to Law 7102/83. They may also carry electric shock batons if they have a Less-Lethal Certification course. There is a general belief in Brazil that rubber batons are less prone to break bones than the wooden ones. There is no law that prohibits batons; except for spring-loaded batons, which are defined as
5785-449: The idea being that should violence suddenly escalate, the baton can be easily deployed but can be stowed neatly away so as not to affect movement due to its mounting point on the officer's clothing. It is also commonly used in the UK and many other countries as a means of gaining entry quickly to a vehicle that contains offenders. In such a situation the baton is deployed and, due to the solid end of
5874-615: The law enforcement branches of the services of a military tasked with enforcing and investigating offences violating military law. In Australia, each branch of the Australian Defence Force maintains its independent police force made up of military personnel from that service. In the Australian Army , the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police conducts general law enforcement duties including security on military installations, investigations and close personal protection. In
5963-463: The mounted police also undertake operational policing duties. Baton (law enforcement) A baton (also truncheon , nightstick , billy club , billystick , cosh , lathi , or simply stick ) is a roughly cylindrical club made of wood, rubber, plastic, or metal. It is carried as a compliance tool and defensive weapon by law-enforcement officers , correctional staff , security guards and military personnel . The name baton comes from
6052-399: The officers if they've ever seen a subject subdued with one blow to the head. None of them ever have. What you're doing when you hit a man in the head is first, creating a serious danger of death, and second, you're numbing the one part of the body that can stop him. If you use my method with one or two strikes and step back, he realizes that the thing has gone against him, and the confrontation
6141-454: The police often carry out the functions of sheriffs and bailiffs in rural and more sparsely populated areas of Australia. The office of sheriff was first established in Australia in 1824. This was simultaneous with the appointment of the first Chief Justice of New South Wales . The role of the sheriff has not been static, nor is it identical in each Australian state. In the past, a sheriff's duties included: executing court judgments, acting as
6230-520: The policeman's authority. This was always removed when the equipment left official service (often with the person who used it). Earlier on, the word was used in vulgar Latin ( bastο —a stick helping walking, from basta —hold). The Victorian original has since developed into the multitude of varieties available today. The typical truncheon is a straight stick made from wood or a synthetic material, approximately 32 mm ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 in) in diameter and 460–910 mm (18–36 in) long, with
6319-519: The power to investigate Commonwealth ministers, public servants, statutory office holders, government agencies, parliamentarians, and personal staff of politicians and replaced the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity . The commission's powers are equivalent to that of a Royal Commission with the ability to compel witnesses and compel documents to be produced to the commission. Military Police , also known as Service Police, are
6408-496: The power to issue fines and do not have the same powers as state police. They may rely upon appointment as a special constable or legislated powers for their authority. State police also perform certain functions on behalf of the Australian government such as the enforcement of various Commonwealth Acts and regulations in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police and other Commonwealth officers. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Jervis Bay Territory are serviced by
6497-487: The power to issue fines that do not exceed a certain amount. The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) was established in October 2007. ANZPAA is a joint initiative of the Australian and New Zealand Police Commissioners and is funded by contributions to Australia and New Zealand Police jurisdictions. ANZPAA is a non-operational policing agency that provides strategy and policy advice, and secretarial services to
6586-556: The result of an amalgamation of the now-defunct Commonwealth Police and Australian Capital Territory Police Force. It is responsible for the investigation of federal offences (crimes against the Commonwealth ), and has federal jurisdiction throughout Australia. It provides protective services to federal government properties, government personnel, dignitaries and foreign diplomatic officials, and major airports. It also provides regular law enforcement within external Australian territories,
6675-416: The risk of death or permanent injury, as well as questionable effectiveness. By the 1990s virtually all modern police departments had phased them out from their issued equipment, and most banned their use entirely. Stun batons are an unusual modern variation designed to administer an electric shock in order to incapacitate the target. They consist of an insulated handle and guard, and a rigid shaft usually
6764-437: The rubber and bounces off when the object is struck. Rubber batons are not very effective when used on the subject's arms or legs, and can still cause injury if the head is struck. That is why most police departments have stopped issuing them. The Russian police standard-issue baton is rubber, except in places such as Siberia , where it can be cold enough that the rubber may become brittle and break if struck. The traffic baton
6853-500: The side-handle component is screwed into the primary shaft. The side handle may be removed from the shaft by the end-user, converting the side-handle into a straight baton. The advantages of a side-handle baton over a straight baton are numerous: Side-handle batons have a few disadvantages: Side-handle batons have been involved in high-profile incidents of alleged police brutality , such as in New Zealand's 1981 Springbok Tour and
6942-616: The solid tip is to maximize the power of a strike when the baton is used as an impact weapon. Expandable batons are made in both straight and side-handle configurations but are considerably more common in the straight configuration. The best-known example of the straight expandable baton is the ASP Baton, from Armament Systems and Procedures . Depending on the holster or scabbard design, it may be possible to carry an expandable baton in either collapsed or expanded position, which would be helpful if an officer needed to holster an expanded baton and it
7031-494: The striking end than other designs. This makes them less maneuverable, but theoretically would deliver more kinetic energy on impact. Most agencies have replaced the straightstick with other batons because of inconvenience to carry, and a desire for their officers to look less threatening to the community they serve. Despite having been replaced by side-handle and expandable batons in many (if not most) law enforcement agencies, straightsticks remain in use by many major departments in
7120-399: The subject feel threatened) than if the officer were to be equipped with a baton or pepper spray canister instead. This permits the officer to appear less threatening while having an impact weapon in hand and ready for instantaneous action, should the situation indeed turn violent. Characteristic of a flashlight used as a baton or club is the grip employed. Flashlights are commonly held with
7209-461: The tip. Taken together, these are intended to impair the subject's ability to continue advancing (by striking the leg) or attack (by striking the arm) by causing transitory neurapraxia (temporary muscle pain, spasm and paralysis due to nerve injury). Modern systems strictly prohibit hitting the skull , sternum , spine , or groin unless such an attack is conducted in defense of life, with many jurisdictions considering this deadly force . Before
7298-536: The truncheon to pivot nearly freely forward and downward, so moving its tip much faster than its handle. Batons are also used for non-weapon purposes such as breaking windows to free individuals trapped in a vehicle, or turning out a suspect's pockets during a search (as a precaution against sharp objects). Some people other than law enforcement officers use batons as weapons because of their simple construction and easy concealment. The use or carrying of batons or improvised clubs by people other than law enforcement officers
7387-730: The umbrella of the Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU) , an agency of the Australian Department of Defence led by the Provost Marshal and tasked with providing specialised military policing services and supporting civilian police in defence matters. Each state , as well as the Northern Territory , is responsible for maintaining its police force which is responsible for policing at the state and local levels. This involves general law and order, forensics, traffic policing, major crime, anti-terrorism branches, water police, search and rescue and in some states transit police. Local policing in
7476-442: The word nightstick . The night-stick was longer so it could provide extra protection which was thought to be necessary at night. In modern police training, the primary targets are large nerve clusters, such as the common peroneal nerve in the mid-thigh and large, easily targetable muscle groups, such as the quadriceps and biceps . The baton is swung in fast, "snapping" strikes to these areas, sometimes only making contact with
7565-402: The world include many different designs, such as fixed-length straight batons, blackjacks, fixed-length side-handle batons, collapsible straight batons, and other more exotic variations. All types have their advantages and disadvantages. The design and popularity of specific types of baton have evolved over the years and are influenced by a variety of factors. These include inherent compromises in
7654-588: Was a popular movement to outfit police batons with implements like whistles, torches/flashlights and tear gas. At least four models were built with weapon-retention devices that would deploy "sharp spikes or blades" in case a suspect tried to grab an officer's baton. There is even a mention of two early 20th century patents for batons with guns built into the frame in American Police Equipment . The terms blackjack , cosh , and sap refer to any of several short, easily concealed club weapons consisting of
7743-414: Was not possible or convenient to collapse it at the time. An expandable baton is opened by being swung forcefully while collapsed, using inertia to extend and lock the segments by friction. Some mechanical-lock versions can also be opened by simply pulling the segments apart. Depending on the design, expandable batons may be collapsed either by being brought down (inverted) on a hard surface or by depressing
7832-743: Was officially upheld by many police forces and government systems. In the Northern Territory, the Aboriginals Ordinance 1918 (Cth) allowed forced recruitment of Indigenous people and legal non-payment of wages, granting Protectors and police the right to uphold this arrangement. In 1987, the Fitzgerald Inquiry was launched in response to allegations of misconduct within the Queensland Police Service , before later being expanded to investigate allegations of corruption within
7921-642: Was the body for police education and training in Australia and New Zealand; the council comprising each of the police commissioners from Australia and New Zealand along with the president of the Police Federation of Australia and the president of the New Zealand Police Association. On 9 November 2007, APPSC roles and functions were amalgamated into ANZPAA. In 2013, APPSC was retitled to the Australia New Zealand Council of Police Professionalisation. Crime Stoppers programs run in each state and on
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