Officers who have received Taser training from April 2015 – April 2023
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.030756
I note you seek access to the following information:
I'm looking to get information on Taser deployments between 2016 and the latest available date.
The Met has previously recorded Taser deployment up until 2016 with indication to the kind of deployment, please may I get the data with indication to the following deployment kinds too:
Fired:
Drive Stun
Angled drive stun
Not fired:
Red Dot
Drawna
Aimed
Arced
I'd also like to know:
What is the total number of officers equipped with a Taser at the latest available date?
What is the total number of officers who have received Taser training?
What is the total number of Tasers allocated to your force?
How many incidents have Taser deployment occurred when an officer has not received training?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - The Met has previously recorded Taser deployment up until 2016 with indication to the kind of deployment, please may I get the data with indication to the following deployment kinds too:
Fired:
Drive Stun
Angled drive stun
Not fired:
Red Dot
Drawn
Aimed
Arced
This data is widely available and is routinely published on the MPS Use of Force Dashboard it covers not only Taser use, but all Use of Force recording, of which started in 2017.
Please access the below link to this information. There is no information held prior to 2017.
MPS - Stats & Data - Use of Force Dashboard
MOPAC - Use of Force Dataset
Q2 - What is the total number of officers equipped with a Taser at the latest available date?
As of 05/06/2023 we have 7615 trained STOs.
Q3 - What is the total number of officers who have received Taser training?
Please see the below table:
| 2015-16 | 846 |
| 2016-17 | 1501 |
| 2017-18 | 1240 |
| 2018/19 | 1744 |
| 2019/20 | 2926 |
| 2020/21 | 2187 |
| 2021/22 | 2009 |
| 2022/23 | 1454 |
| Total (April15-April23) | 13907 |
Q4 - What is the total number of Tasers allocated to your force?
As of 12:20 on 06/06/2023 we had a total of 4899 Tasers in the MPS.
Q5 - How many incidents have Taser deployment occurred when an officer has not received training?
Only Specially Trained Officers (STO’s) can carry TASER and, therefore, deploy.