Taser use soaring among officers

Latest figures show the number of Taser uses and discharges has increased as more police officers have the authority to use them.

The third quarter statistics from a 12-month trial, which extended the use of Taser to specially trained units in the fight against crime, reveal the devices were used 159 times and discharged 26 times in the last three months.

Overall, Tasers have been used 411 times and discharged 57 times since the trial began in September 2007.

Specially trained units, who are not firearms officers, have been taking part in a 12-month trial across ten forces.

Figures also published this week include a breakdown of all Taser use across England and Wales since it was first introduced in April 2004. They reveal a total of 2,662 uses and 834 discharges.

There are similarities between the use of Taser by both authorised firearms officers and the specially trained units across the ten trial forces.

‘Red dot’ incidents account for the highest percentage of Taser usage with 206 (just over 50 per cent) taking place across the specially trained units, 360 since July 2007 (49.5 per cent) by authorised firearms officers, and 1,267 (just over 47 per cent) of all Taser use in England and Wales since April 2004.

A noticeable difference is between the number of Taser discharges and incidents where the device is ‘drawn’.

Whereas the number of Taser discharges for firearms officers since July 2007 accounts for over a quarter of the device’s use (185 incidents), that figure is only 13.8 per cent (57 incidents) for the specially trained units.

The ten specially trained units have ‘drawn’ the Taser 108 times, accounting for 26.3 per cent of Taser use, compared to just over ten per cent – 78 incidents – where the Taser was ‘drawn’ by authorised firearms officers.

“Tasers are making a real difference on our streets, not only keeping the public safe but also protecting our police officers,” said Police Minister Tony McNulty.