16 Grasping the nettle: Ending Europe’s Trade in Execution and Torture Technology Germany IWA 2015 The IWA Outdoor Classics Event was held during 6–9 March 2015 in Nuremburg, Germany. A range of equipment controlled by the Regulation was on display at the event including direct contact electric shock devices, kinetic impact devices and mechanical restraint devices. In addition, at least two companies were displaying and attempting to market Annex II goods. General Star Trading Corporation from Taiwan, manufactures a range of police equipment including batons and mechanical restraint devices. The image below left shows the equipment on display on the company’s’ stand at IWA, including two sets of thumb cuffs. The image below right, taken from the company’s marketing materials distributed at IWA, includes thumb cuffs as part of the range of mechanical restraint devices promoted by the company. The German Company, Clemen & Jung, were found to be displaying a restraint device on their stall visually identical to the Nr. 8/17 “leg-iron with anchor” and which appears to be intended for attaching prisoners to fixed objects. More information on this product has been provided by the company on its website, as discussed below. Promotion and marketing of prohibited goods via the internet Promotion of prohibited goods also occurs via the distribution of information through intangible sources, most notably the internet. The illustrative cases below describe the internet promotion by EU companies of goods that are listed in Annex II of the Regulation and whose import and export from the EU is prohibited. Promotion of goods by these means is not currently controlled, such promotion could facilitate the trade of prohibited Annex II goods both within the EU and externally. Furthermore whilst the illustrative cases detailed below describe promotional activities, in certain cases the companies may also undertake additional activities of concern notably manufacture or assembly of Annex II goods. Although the control of manufacturing and assembly is beyond the scope of the Regulation, such activities should be controlled by member States and, where relevant, prohibited at either the national level or through an appropriate EU-wide mechanism. Germany – electric shock stun cuffs The German company PKI Electronic Intelligence GmbH has marketed an extensive range of security and surveillance products, including a range of electric-shock equipment via the internet. Of particular concern are its “Stun-Cuffs for Hand” which, as of 14 May 2015, were still being displayed on its website (see below). According to a 2010 company product catalogue: “PKI 9360 stun-cuffs for hands find their application when taking a prisoner to the court or hospital. In case he attempts to escape the stun-cuffs are activated by remote control and transmit an electric shock of 60.000 Volt. Voltage can be adjusted according to demands of staff. You never saw an escaping person stop so quickly!”55 55 PKI Electronic Intelligence GmbH website, http://www.pki-electronic.com/catalogue/downloads_en/PKI_Anti_Terror_Equipment_2010. pdf (accessed 26 June 2012) p.155 Amnesty International May 2015 Index: EUR 01/1632/2015