TASER: Trial Evaluation Final Data

Publication No. 85/08

G Smith C Hussain

85/08 i

TASER: Trial Evaluation

Final Data

G Smith C Hussain

85/08

1

ii 85/08

TASER: Trial Evaluation

Final Data

G Smith C Hussain

Publication No. 85/08

1

FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2008

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2008

For information on copyright see our website: http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk//hosdb/terms

Home Office Scientific Development Branch Sandridge St Albans AL4 9HQ United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1727 865051 Fax: +44 (0)1727 816233 E-mail: hosdb@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Website: http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/

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Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2

2 Final Trial Usage Figures.......................................................................................... 3 2.1 Breakdown by subject details............................................................................ 4 2.2 Barb application points ...................................................................................... 5 2.3 Drive-stun application points ............................................................................. 6 2.4 Breakdown of injuries ........................................................................................ 6 2.5 Medical treatment.............................................................................................. 7

Appendix A: ................................................................................................................................... 8

Appendix B: ................................................................................................................................... 9

1 Introduction

TASER has been available to all Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) since September 2004 as a less lethal alternative for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted in accordance with criteria laid down in the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms.

Since 20 July 2007 Authorised Firearms Officers in England and Wales have also been able to use TASER in a wider set of circumstances. These officers are now able to deploy TASER in operations or incidents where the use of firearms is not authorised, but where they are facing violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would need to use force to protect the public, themselves or the subject.

In July 2007 ministers gave their approval for a 12 month trial of the deployment of TASER by Specially Trained Units (STUs)who are not firearms officers in circumstances where officers were facing violence or threats of violence of such severity that they would need to use force to protect the public, themselves or the subject. The trial commenced on 1 September 2007 in the following 10 forces: Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, Gwent, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Metropolitan Police Service, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, North Wales and West Yorkshire.

Each use of TASER is recorded on a comprehensive form designed to capture data which can be used to monitor its use from a medical and operational perspective. The ACPO operational guidance and policy for the trial, together with a copy of the form used to collect the data, is available on the ACPO Police use of Firearms website. http://www.westmercia.police.uk/images/TaserPolicyaSpeciallyTrained.pdf

The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) gathered the information provided on the forms and collated quarterly figures on usage which were published on the Home Office website in February, May and August 2008. Additionally more detailed information on injuries and subject groups was passed to the Independent Medical Advisory committee, DOMILL (Defence Scientific Advisory Council on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Options), to allow them to monitor the trial for unexpected or serious injuries.

This report contains the final figures for the trial and also a summary of more detailed data that was passed to DOMILL. The DOMILL statement on the trial is available here:

http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/firearms/taser/?view=Standard

A more comprehensive analysis of the data collected by HOSDB will be published in May 2009 to supplement this basic presentation of data. This more in-depth report will ensure that all data collected will be used to its best advantage in providing detailed learning outcomes from the trial.

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2 Final Trial Usage Figures

Usage Details Incident/Subject Details

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STU Use Start Date in Trial

ForcesAvon & Somerset Constabulary 1 1 11 14 27 24 24 3 01/09/2007Devon & Cornwall Constabulary 10 1 17 2 8 38 28 1 29 9 24/09/2007Gwent Police 1 8 9 8 8 1 01/09/2007Lincolnshire Police 4 1 5 4 4 1 01/09/2007Merseyside Police 1 1 7 1 10 6 2 10 01/09/2007Metropolitan Police Service 20 2 15 111 15 65 228 143 10 169 51 10/12/2007North Wales Police 7 2 1 7 1 1 19 18 1 67 1 01/09/2007Northamptonshire Police 1 1 2 2 2 13/11/2007Northumbria Police 42 3 1 149 15 68 278 212 10 215 60 01/09/2007West Yorkshire Police 10 2 26 2 5 45 37 1 46 9 09/06/2008Totals 93 9 20 340 37 162 0 661 482 25 574 135

Table 1: TASER use in England and Wales by specially trained units in the ten trial force areas from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2008

Table 1 details the number of uses of TASER – only the highest level of ‘use’ (as defined by ACPO: TASER Operational Guidance July 2007 policy section 5.2) for each TASER deployment is recorded. The total number of ‘incidents’ is also reported in the table to provide continuity with how TASER deployments have previously been recorded by ACPO. The table’s principal focus on TASER ‘uses’ as opposed to TASER ‘incidents’ is designed to ensure full transparency on TASER deployment as there may be more than one ‘use’ at an ‘incident’.

Direct comparisons between forces should be drawn with caution for the following reasons:

• Not all forces have participated during all periods;

• The population size and demographic within each force area varies considerably;

• Forces have deployed TASERs to differing numbers of officers according to how they have decided to structure and define their Specially Trained Units, although all STUs conform to the overriding trial definition;

• All figures are based on forms detailing deployments between the stated dates and submitted to HOSDB by 29 September 2008.

Tables showing the total number of uses of TASER and also by AFOs outside of a Firearms Authority are attached at Appendices A and B for additional information.

2.1 Breakdown by subject details Table 2 shows the usage of TASER by STUs broken down into individual subject characteristics.

Total number of incidents = 482 involving 495 individually targeted subjects with 661 total uses. Four incidents involved multiple subjects being recipient of a single TASER drawing or arcing usage i.e. crowd control (numbering: 4, 10, 15 and 50 subjects). Date range: 01st September 2007 – 31st August 2008.

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# uses 93 9 20 340 37 162 661X26 93 9 20 327 36 155 640M26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Typen/s* 0 0 0 13 1 7 21

Male 75 9 17 250 27 87 465Female 4 0 0 14 1 4 23

Dog 2 0 0 0 0 0 2Sex

n/s 1 0 0 1 0 3 50-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

11-20 9 4 4 57 8 20 10221-30 34 2 5 90 9 35 17531-40 20 1 3 64 7 23 11841-50 14 1 5 45 3 10 7851-60 1 1 0 5 1 1 961-70 0 0 0 2 0 1 3

70+ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Age

n/s 4 0 0 2 0 4 1013yrs 0 0 0 1 0 0 114yrs 0 0 0 0 1 0 115yrs 1 0 0 2 0 2 516yrs 1 1 2 6 1 2 13

<=17yrs

17yrs 2(1*) 0 0 10 0 2 14< 5’ 0 0 0 3 0 0 35-6’ 53 5 10 163 17 51 299>6’ 25 4 6 94 11 35 175Height

n/s 4 0 1 5 0 8 18Slight 9 0 1 27 4 6 47

Medium 52 5 11 174 19 59 320Large 18 4 4 60 5 22 113

Physical Frame

n/s 3 0 1 4 0 7 15Build Muscular/

athletic 51 4 10 124 15 42 246Planned 6 2 7 41 3 14 73Response

Spontaneous 75 8 9 197 24 70 383*Not specified within the deployment form

Table 2: Usage of TASER broken down into individual subject characteristics

NB: 8% of the ages were reported as estimated. These are distinguished by an asterisk only in the age group breakdown <=17 years.

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Data was also collected on subjects’ physical and psychological state including whether they were, or appeared to be, under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Officer’s assessments of psychological factors were also captured, including self-harming, heightened state of arousal etc. Depression was classified under mental illness. However, mental health issues were also classed under existing medical condition in some cases.

Alcohol Drugs Mental illness

Existing medical

condition

Psychological issues other

178 95 98 34 92 10 Table 3: Subjects’ physical and psychological states

Out of 495 subjects, 276 involved at least one of the above moderating factors. 219 incidents reported no moderators involved.

2.2 Barb application points Tables 4 and 5 detail the location of barb contact points (top and bottom) from all firings of TASER (including cartridge re-loads) as depicted in figure 1 which shows application zones on the front and back of the human body.

Body Zone - Front Location 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Top 0 1 1 2 1 2 56 3 0 0 0 Bottom 1 0 0 2 1 0 21 31 3 4 1 Total 1 1 1 4 2 2 77 34 3 4 1

Table 4: Breakdown of barb locations (front of body)

Body Zone - Back Location A B C D E F G H J K n/s*

Top 0 0 1 0 1 0 27 1 0 0 12 Bottom 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 7 0 0 17 total 0 0 2 0 1 0 46 8 0 0 29

*Not Specified, includes front and back shots and misses

Table 5: Breakdown of barb locations (back of body)

Front Back Figure 1: Application zones on front and back of human body

2.3 Drive-stun application points Table 6 details the location on subjects of drive-stun points of contact from all drive-stun applications (including multiple stuns) of TASER.

Front 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Total 1 2 1 0 0 0 9 3 0 0 0Back A B C D E F G H J K n/s Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 1 1 0

Table 6: Drive-stun application points (front and back of body)

2.4 Breakdown of injuries The forms also detailed any injuries to the subject. These were classified into three categories, defined as follows:

Primary injuries sustained are classified as those directly attributable to the application of TASER currents.

Secondary injuries sustained are classified as those associated with TASER use (e.g. barb injuries or injuries from falls).

Coincidental injuries sustained are injuries received in the incident not directly associated with the use of TASER (e.g. self-inflicted wounds).

The table below includes subjects who were exposed to TASER being fired and/or drive-stunned - totalling 91 subjects.

Injury reported

primary only

secondary only

coincidental only

primary and

secondary only

primary and

coincidental only

secondary and

coincidental only

Primary, secondary

and coincidental

None

Number of subjects 1 30 9 5 2 9 2 32

Table 7: Breakdown of Injuries

The classifications of injuries presented in the above table are as categorised by the officer who deployed the TASER with no interpretation or checks. This information was passed to DOMILL, together with copies of the complete TASER Evaluation form, for them to judge whether the injuries were unexpected or serious. Additional information was also available to DOMILL from Force Medical Examiner reports which were (normally) submitted with the TASER reports. The DOMILL consideration of these injuries is summarised in their statement on the trial.

Primary injuries were often confused by the reporting officer with the effects expected from the application of TASER, i.e. involuntary muscular spasms. The majority of secondary injuries (over 80%) were barb related, there were also injuries associated with falls. Coincidental injuries were generally those sustained from fighting, struggling or self-harming.

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2.5 Medical treatment The table below includes subjects who were exposed to TASER being fired and/or drive-stunned who received medical treatment for primary and/or secondary related injuries.

Key: FA = First aid treatment

A/M = Ambulance/medic treatment at scene

H = Hospital treatment

Treatment received

FA only

A/M only H only

FA and A/M

FA and H

A/M and H

FA, A/M

and H Number of

subjects 17 2 0 12 2 3 8

Table 8: Medical treatment received for primary and/or secondary injuries

Appendix A:

TASER use in England and Wales by AFOs outside of a firearms authority from 20 July 2007 to 31 August 2008

Usage Details Incident/Subject Details

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usedAvon & Somerset Constabulary 13 2 11 22 2 6 56 50 2 70 5Bedfordshire Police 3 1 3 7 5 5 2Cambridgeshire Constabulary 6 1 39 1 7 54 44 2 47 7Cheshire Constabulary 4 1 5 3 13 10 10 2City of London Police 1 1 2 2 2Cleveland Police 1 8 1 10 8 1 9 2Cumbria Constabulary 2 2 2 30 1 1 38 32 32 6Derbyshire Constabulary 3 15 1 3 22 15 1 16 7Devon & Cornwall Constabulary 8 3 1 13 25 23 23 2Dorset Police 7 2 2 11 10 10 1Durham Constabulary 1 1 1 1Dyfed-Powys Police 1 1 2 2 2Essex Police 11 3 2 10 1 27 23 23 4Gloucestershire Constabulary 14 1 18 2 35 23 23 9Greater Manchester Police 5 1 4 10 9 9Gwent Police 1 2 6 2 11 9 9 1Hampshire ConstabularyHertfordshire Constabulary 4 1 2 16 10 33 27 27 5Humberside Police 14 1 5 38 1 3 62 54 1 55 8Kent Police 10 6 16 15 15 1Lancashire Constabulary 22 3 1 21 6 53 45 45 7Leicestershire Constabulary 7 1 14 22 4 8 56 50 1 51 3Lincolnshire Police 1 2 4 3 10 7 7 3Merseyside Police 3 6 9 7 1 8 1Metropolitan Police Service 14 6 1 3 1 25 19 5 22 3Norfolk Constabulary 9 6 6 2 23 21 1 22 1North Wales Police 7 3 1 14 2 3 30 29 29 1North Yorkshire Police 8 4 5 22 2 7 48 37 1 56 8Northamptonshire Police 2 1 1 2 6 6 6Northumbria Police 4 1 5 5 5 20 16 17 3Nottinghamshire Police 6 1 7 6 6 1South Wales Police 7 1 1 16 2 1 28 22 1 31 6South Yorkshire Police 2 1 1 4 4 4Staffordshire Police 9 4 6 15 1 4 39 27 1 28 11Suffolk Constabulary 1 1 2 4 4 4Surrey Police 1 1 1 9 1 1 14 9 9 4Sussex Police 8 16 1 3 28 17 17 9Thames Valley Police 1 2 4 7 7 7Warwickshire PoliceWest Mercia Constabulary 20 3 1 34 1 2 61 44 3 47 13West Midlands Police 1 1 2 2 2West Yorkshire Police 26 3 2 28 3 62 50 50 12Wiltshire Constabulary 12 1 1 10 1 25 21 21 4Totals 263 53 70 484 29 97 0 996 812 21 877 152

NB: Only the highest level of 'use' for each TASER deployment is recorded.

'Use' as defined by ACPO: TASER Operational Guidance July 2007 policy section 5.2

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Appendix B:

TASER use in England and Wales excluding the original 2003 pilot - 22 April 2004 to 31 August 2008

Usage Details Incident/Subject Details

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usedAvon & Somerset Constabulary 24 4 13 49 3 21 114 98 3 120 13Bedfordshire Police 21 1 1 12 3 2 40 36 36 4Cambridgeshire Constabulary 10 1 68 4 9 92 73 2 76 15Cheshire Constabulary 14 4 13 1 4 36 30 30 5City of London Police 1 3 4 4 4Cleveland Police 31 1 52 8 92 84 2 86 8Cumbria Constabulary 4 2 3 40 1 3 1 54 45 45 9Derbyshire Constabulary 4 38 1 4 47 39 1 40 8Devon & Cornwall Constabulary 34 3 3 35 3 8 86 71 1 72 14Dorset Police 24 4 5 23 1 7 64 56 56 8Durham Constabulary 27 1 53 1 1 83 61 61 20Dyfed-Powys Police 2 4 1 1 8 8 8Essex Police 20 4 2 17 2 45 40 40 5Gloucestershire Constabulary 26 1 36 2 65 44 44 17Greater Manchester Police 18 7 13 1 39 36 1 37 1Gwent Police 6 3 33 1 2 45 38 38 5Hampshire Constabulary 11 2 1 14 12 12 1Hertfordshire Constabulary 19 2 2 34 17 74 60 1 61 10Humberside Police 18 1 10 78 4 4 115 97 1 98 17Kent Police 2 1 14 7 24 23 23 1Lancashire Constabulary 43 4 1 46 1 6 101 86 1 87 14Leicestershire Constabulary 11 1 18 28 4 8 70 61 1 62 6Lincolnshire Police 8 2 1 12 2 3 28 21 21 7Merseyside Police 16 2 1 31 10 6 66 46 4 53 10Metropolitan Police 227 47 18 154 20 73 3 542 410 27 491 78Norfolk Constabulary 21 1 6 11 2 41 36 2 37 4North Wales Police 31 6 4 76 8 8 133 114 3 180 16North Yorkshire Police 15 4 6 41 4 8 78 59 1 78 15Northamptonshire Police 8 1 7 3 19 17 17 2Northumbria Police 52 5 1 219 26 85 1 389 290 17 305 76Nottinghamshire Police 5 1 8 1 15 11 11 4South Wales Police 16 1 1 20 2 1 41 34 1 43 7South Yorkshire Police 7 1 5 13 13 13Staffordshire Police 17 4 9 63 8 7 1 109 77 3 82 27Suffolk Constabulary 11 1 10 3 25 25 25Surrey Police 2 2 2 16 2 2 26 18 18 4Sussex Police 15 1 32 1 5 54 34 1 37 14Thames Valley Police 8 2 10 1 21 21 21Warwickshire Police 1 1 1 3 3 3West Mercia Constabulary 27 3 2 44 2 2 80 60 4 64 16West Midlands Police 44 4 1 39 88 64 2 66 18West Yorkshire Police 86 9 10 107 5 9 1 227 190 3 201 35Wiltshire Constabulary 19 1 1 17 1 39 33 33 6X Not Stated 1 1 2 2 2Totals 1007 132 132 1613 125 335 7 3351 2680 82 2937 520

NB: Only the highest level of 'use' for each TASER deployment is recorded.

'Use' as defined by ACPO: TASER Operational Guidance July 2007 policy section 5.2

Home Office Scientific Development Branch Sandridge St Albans AL4 9HQ United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1727 865051 Fax: +44 (0)1727 816233 E-mail: hosdb@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Website: http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/