How Taser is used

There are various ways in which a taser is used, every use is recorded. Here is a breakdown of the six uses and what each one means:

Drawn

The Taser is taken out of its holster.

Aimed

The Taser is pointed at someone.

Red dot

The Taser is pointed at someone with the red dot laser sight active so a red dot appears on the person it’s pointed at.

Arced

With no cartridge attached, the Taser is switched on and the trigger squeezed so that electric current arcs between the two contact points on the front of the Taser.

Fired

With a cartridge attached, the Taser is switched on and the trigger squeezed causing the cartridge to fire.

Drive stun

With no cartridge attached, the front of the Taser is placed against the person and ‘arced’ (the trigger squeezed so that electric current arcs between the two contact points on the front of the Taser).

See Taser stats from April 2017 on the Use of force dashboard. For earlier stats, see the Taser dashboard.