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“Taser provides officers with an additional tool to defuse high risk situations involving extreme violence or the threat of such violence, protecting the public and officers from serious harm. In certain circumstances, its use can be more appropriate than conventional firearms in resolving dangerous situations safely and without injury to any person. In almost half of all cases involving Taser, the mere threat of its use has been enough to deter assailants and ensure a peaceful resolution of the incident.
“A transparent and open approach is an important part of providing information to the public about how Taser is used in the police service and its extension beyond firearms teams to specially trained officers. ACPO therefore welcomes quarterly publication of these figures.”
Taser discharges increase as more trained officers have the authority to use them
A statement from the Home Office reads:
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 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
1. Second Quarter Taser statistics are published at http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/about-us/news/539349
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
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