Use of Taser Guns by the Police

What is a taser gun and how does it work?

A taser is a hand-held electro-shock weapon, designed to incapacitate someone temporarily. It looks like a pistol, but is bright yellow. 

It fires two dart-like electrodes that send an electrical current into a person’s body, causing strong involuntary muscle contractions. 

A person shot with a taser will either stop in their tracks or drop to the ground.

When are the police allowed to use a taser gun?

To be justified in using a taser, the police officer must:

• Follow correct procedure
• Be faced with serious threat of violence
• Consider that the use of the taser is reasonable and proportionate to the threat
• Ensure anyone shot with a taser is examined by a doctor shortly afterwards.

In the moment, what counts as a “serious threat” and how much force is “reasonable” is within their judgement. They may not always make the right call. Many people have been injured by tasers during peaceful protests, in some cases when they’ve already been handcuffed.

Health implications of being tasered

Being tasered can have serious implications for health, including: 

• Emotional trauma
• Breathing problems
• Complications, particularly if the person has used recreational drugs
• Death, by triggering a heart attack.

If you have been tasered by the police and are concerned that the use of force was unjustified or excessive, our specialist solicitors can help. We’ll listen to what happened, explain your rights, and advise whether you may be able to make a claim.

Challenging the police can feel like an impossible task, especially when you have been made to feel powerless. Anyone can complain to the IOPC, but they deal with huge volumes of complaints and often prioritise the most serious ones (involving serious injury and death). The process can be complex and lengthy.

With extensive experience of bringing claims against almost every major police force in the UK, our solicitors understand how the system works. We’ll take the time to listen to what’s happened, explain your options clearly, and support you at every stage of the process.

What happens next?

First, you’ll speak to one of our friendly team on the phone. You can talk to us about your situation, and we’ll assess whether or not we can help you. If we’re able to take your claim forward, we’ll get started right away.

Our expert team will look into your case in detail, compiling evidence to make sure your case is as strong as possible. Where appropriate – for example in the case of personal injury – we’ll obtain expert medical opinion to support your claim and show the impact on your life.

Bringing a claim against the police may involve first filing a police complaint. If this is the case, we’ll be able to advise you through the process. You can find out more about how these complaints are dealt with on our Police Complaints Procedure page.

Once we have everything we need, we’ll attempt to settle your claim. Most cases settle out of court and that is always our preferred option, but if this isn’t possible, we will support you through the trial and help you with any court appearance.

If you believe the police have acted unlawfully, you don’t have to face the process alone. Contact us today for confidential advice and to discuss your situation with a member of our team.