Nova Scotia Justice Minister orders police to stop using old tasers

December 11, 2008
By The Canadian Press

Nova Scotia police departments have been ordered to shelve an older model of Taser because of concerns they might be unsafe.

CBC News reported Wednesday that Justice Minister Cecil Clarke gave the order.

The Taser in question is the Model X26, purchased before Jan. 1, 2006.

The CBC said seven of the older stun guns are in use with the Halifax, Bridgewater and Stellarton police forces.

A CBC News/Radio-Canada investigation found that the electrical current produced by some of the older Tasers was stronger than specified by manufacturer Taser International.

Sherri Aikenhead, spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said the department went looking for the older models when it heard about the CBC’s findings.