Plastic balls: Montrealers will be consulted

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Sarah Daoust-Braun

Monday, February 19, 2018 21:38

UPDATE
Monday, February 19, 2018 21:38

Look at this article

The administration of Valérie Plante acknowledges that the use of the plastic balls by the officers of the Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM) is of “special concern” and will convene in the spring a public consultation on the issue.

“We recognize that it affects too many people often racialized, indigenous, homeless or with mental health problems”, said the head of the public safety Nathalie Goulet during the question period of citizens to the city council, on Monday.

The authority wishes to revise the use of so-called weapons of intermediate and reduced lethality, such as electric shock weapons (Tasers) and stun grenades, and the training of the police officers who make use of it.

Projet Montréal has promised during the election campaign to ban the use of plastic balls.

In June 2017, Stone Coriolanus is dead after being hit by plastic balls, but also by electrical discharges, and possibly also by live bullets, during a police intervention. His family is currently suing the City of Montreal.