Spider-Man web catches suspects like flies

A SPIDER-MAN-STYLE web designed to subdue belligerent suspects has been demonstrated for SA police. The Safety Net suppression device has much in common with the Marvel Comics superhero's "web-shooters", built into his costume and designed to stop villains in their tracks. SA police are examining the potential advantages of the device after accepting an offer to watch a demonstration by Sydney-based S.A.Y. Security Group on Monday. It works by deploying a high-tensile net across a 16sq m area at 6m per second, covering a person in seconds. They are immediately restricted by the net strings and can be pulled down to the ground, cutting off any chance of escape. The net uses compressed air – not an explosive charge or electrical current – to operate. S.A.Y. Security Group chief executive Terry Ainsworth said the device was safer for both police and criminals compared to a Taser. "We seem very confident about the trial because it is such a safe and versatile tool," he said. "There are no consequences of use." Tasers are used widely by police in Britain and the US but their use has been linked to several fatal heart attacks. In SA, STAR Group officers only have authority to use Tasers but police signalled in February they would consider widening the use of Tasers. Police Commissioner Mal Hyde's spokeswoman, Roberta Heather said "the agent approached police to view a demonstration of the product, without obligation". "SAPOL constantly looks at different technologies, so this is a routine occurrence," she said. Earlier this month, STAR group officers watched a demonstration of the Stinger stun gun at Netley Police Station. The non-lethal weapon is touted by its U.S. manufacturer as safer for police use than Tasers because of its lower electrical current. The S-200 is said to use about a quarter of the Taser's 50,000-volt pulse. SA Police Association president Mark Carroll said he advocated such devices if they were deemed appropriate. "The association supports trialling new technologies with the potential to make the police officer's job safer and ultimately a safer environment for the community," he said.