Tasers fired 112 times in a year by West Midlands Police officers
Officers fired Tasers more often in the West Midlands than the national average.
Tasers have been fired 112 times by West Midlands Police in the past year, new figures reveal.
Officers drew their Tasers 706 times in 2018-19, the latest Home Office statistics show.
During these incidents, Tasers were discharged on 112 occasions, 16 per cent of the time – much higher than the 11 per cent national average.
With the Home Office providing funding for an additional 10,000 officers to carry the weapons, police chiefs and representatives for officers insist Tasers are effective at de-escalating dangerous situations.
The devices, which deliver a high-voltage electric shock, were also used to deter suspects.
In 381 cases officers aimed and partially activated the Taser so a red target dot appeared on them.
West Midlands Police’s use of Tasers dropped six per cent overall last year – in 2017-18 the force reached for them 750 times.
Meanwhile police in Staffordshire used Tasers hundreds of times last year – but their use has still fallen. Officers drew their Tasers 269 times in 2018-19, during these incidents, Tasers were discharged on 26 occasions, 10 per cent of the time.
Use of Tasers, also known as conductive energy devices, has now reached a record high across England and Wales.
The Home Office says the rise may reflect police forces dealing with “more incidents with the potential for conflict”, or growing numbers of “CED-trained officers and CEDs available”.
Police Federation vice-chair Ché Donald said: “With the Government and an increased number of chief constables backing a wider roll-out of Taser, it is unsurprising there were more incidents where this tactical option was selected.”
“But the fact that the figure for instances where the Taser was drawn but not discharged remains so constant reaffirms how effective it can be in de-escalating situations.”
