Police have set up a critical incident investigation
into the death of a man they were attempting to arrest in Sydney's CBD
this morning.Officers were called to a convenience store in The
Rocks about 5:30am (AEST) where the man is alleged to have committed a
robbery.He was later found in Pitt Street where police used capsicum spray and a Taser to subdue him after he resisted arrest.

The man stopped breathing and could not be revived despite efforts from police and paramedics.

Pitt Street has been cordoned off while police conduct a critical incident
investigation which will be reviewed by members of the Professional
Standards Command.The NSW Council for Civil Liberties says this morning's death should prompt police to review their use of Tasers.

Cameron Murphy from the council says police should stop using Tasers until a coronial inquiry into the death is completed.

He says there needs to be more regulation over their use.

"This is a tragic incident that's occurred," he said.

"It clearly demonstrates that Tasers are not an alternative to the use of a lethal force.

"Tasers do in fact kill people and we need much more stringent controls in
which they're deployed, which police use them and in what
circumstances."But Premier Barry O'Farrell says Tasers are a clear alternative to lethal force.

"Tasers versus gun is a clear choice, but I will wait for a report before I make any comments about that incident," he said.

Tasers were introduced into the NSW police force in 2009 as a non-lethal
option to help officers subdue people during hostile situations.Concerns
about Tasers were raised in 2010 when police tasered a man armed with
knives as they responded to reports of a sexual assault in Sydney's
south-west.The man died, but NSW Police Commission Andrew
Scipione defended the officers' actions, saying one, if not both, of the
responding officers could have been killed had they not acted.


Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-18/sydney-taser-death/3896584