There are various ways in which a taser is used, every use is recorded. Here is a breakdown of the seven 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).

Angled drive stun

With the cartridge attached, after an ‘ineffective firing’ (when the Taser’s barbs are too close together or one of the barbs does not attach) the front of the Taser is placed against the person (away from the barbs) and the Taser is activated.

Taser stats from previous years to download