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Taser Discharges Increase As More Trained Officers Have The Authority To Use Them

12 May 2008

The number of Taser uses and discharges has increased as more trained police officers have the authority to use them, new figures from the Home Office show.

The number of Taser uses and discharges has increased as more trained police officers have the authority to use them, new figures from the Home Office show.he latest Taser statistics published today include figures from the first half of the Taser trial which was launched on 1 September 2007. The number of Taser usages for the period between 1 September 2007 and 29 February 2008 was 252 (236 of which were in last three months). Tasers were actually only discharged in 31 situations (of which 25 discharges were in the last three months) indicating that drawing or aiming the Taser is enough of a deterrent in most situations.

These pilot figures are published alongside a breakdown of all Taser use across England and Wales since Tasers were introduced for authorised firearms officers in April 2004.

Tasers are a valuable tool in policing the streets and increase public and police officer security. Ten police forces across the country have been taking part in a 12 month trial which has seen Taser being used by specially trained units who are not firearm officers, but could face similarly violent circumstances requiring conflict management.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said:

“Tasers have contributed to resolving incidents without injury where otherwise there would have been a real possibility of someone being seriously injured or killed. In most cases they have not needed to be fired; drawing or aiming the Taser has been enough of a deterrent.

“Protection of officers and members of the public is clearly our highest priority. The Government will be closely monitoring the trial to evaluate Taser's benefits against any risks.”

Notes to Editors:

Second Quarter Taser statistics are published at http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/about-us/news/539349
The trial was undertaken in 10 police forces including: Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Gwent, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Metropolitan Police Service, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, North Wales and West Yorkshire. All of the officers involved have been fully trained in the use of Taser and will only be using Taser in strict accordance with Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines
The current trial will continue a rigorous approach to informing decisions around the future deployment of Taser. Evaluation of Tasers’ benefits against any risks, and continued stringent training, guidance and monitoring is on-going. Latest independent medical advice is that the risk of serious injury from a Taser is low.
A Taser ‘discharge’ is when the barbs are fired – eg the Taser is fired. A Taser ‘use’ includes one of: a discharge, a drive stun, arced, red dot, aimed, or drawn. This often works as a deterrent.
Taser use tables:

Table 1 - TASER use in the UK excluding the original 2003 pilot
- 22 April 2004 to 29 February 2008
	Usage Details
Force	Discharges	Drive-stuns	Arced	Red Dot	Aimed	Drawn	Not Stated	Total Used
Avon & Somerset Constabulary	13	1	7	18	2	12		53
Bedfordshire Police	13	1	1	6	2	1		24
Cambridgeshire Constabulary	3			40	3	6		52
Cheshire Constabulary	9		3	7	1	2		22
City of London Police				3				3
Cleveland Police	28	1		36		6		71
Cumbria Constabulary	3	1	2	21	1	2	1	31
Derbyshire Constabulary	4			24	1	2		31
Devon & Cornwall Constabulary	15	2	2	13	1			33
Dorset Police	18	3	3	23	1	7		55
Durham Constabulary	24	1		42				67
Dyfed-Powys Police	2			3	1	1		7
Essex Police	9	1		4		1		15
Gloucestershire Constabulary	17			21				38
Greater Manchester Police	14	6		11		1		32
Gwent Police	5		1	18	1	2		27
Hampshire Constabulary	11			2		1		14
Hertfordshire Constabulary	16	2	2	16		6		42
Humberside Police	11