Full Story How police are using ‘less lethal’ weapons at protests
Mar 16, 2026
Nino Bucci, courts and justice reporter who covers legal cases involving police use, and Ariel Bogle, investigations reporter who researches police tactics and accountability. They discuss what counts as 'less lethal' weapons and why the term is disputed. They compare injuries seen in Australia and the US. They examine transparency gaps, fatal cases linked to tasers and projectiles, and possible oversight fixes.
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Broad Definition And Risks Of Less Lethal Weapons
- Less lethal covers a broad range from OC spray and tasers to baton/beanbag rounds and distraction devices.
- Ariel Bogle noted these can cause severe harm and even death despite the label "less lethal".
Policy Gaps Let Less Lethal Tools Creep Into Protest Policing
- Use-of-force policies vary by force and often lack public debate about deployment at protests.
- Ariel Bogle traced OC spray's shift from a narrow alternative to firearms into routine protest policing.
Australian Protest Injuries Mirror US Patterns
- Australia uses many of the same projectile tools seen in the US and they produce comparable injuries like eye trauma and hearing damage.
- Nino Bucci highlighted stinger grenades, foam baton rounds and grenade-like devices used at big protests.