A LACK of supervision over the purchase of police equipment is posing a significant threat to public safety, media reports said.
A man who was caught stealing from customers at a KFC restaurant on Chunfeng Road, Luohu District, attacked people with police-issue tactical pepper spray Oct. 7.
Five employees of the restaurant were affected, along with customers including a pregnant woman.
Police equipment including high-voltage stun batons, pepper spray, handcuffs and stun guns can now be purchased with ease, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.
At the Shenzhen Industrial Products Trading Center, undercover reporters found high-voltage stun batons being sold.
An unnamed woman who was selling them said: We also supply antiriot guns if you don t mind the price.
You can take these [stun batons], although they should only be supplied to security departments with a buyer s ID card and certification to hold the weapons, she said.
Various kinds of police equipment are being sold online, with no registration or certification necessary to purchase the weapons, the Daily said.
(Tina Chen)
