TASER use by police in West Yorkshire has almost doubled since 2017, figures show.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to West Yorkshire Police has revealed that all Taser usages, both discharged and not discharged, stood at 440 in 2017/18. This rose to 790 in 2018/19 and 868 in 2019/20.

The total number of times Taser was discharged saw a rise from 64 in 2017/18 to 88 in 2018/19, with a drop down to 80 in 2019/20. The devices use an electrical current to temporarily incapacitate a person and their use has, at times, proved controversial.

Last year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) called for greater scrutiny on use of Taser following a series of incidents across the country. Concerns were raised there was a disproportionate use against black people and those with mental ill health.

Explaining their use, West Yorkshire Police said: “In common with all forces West Yorkshire Police initially introduced Taser as an additional less lethal option for use by authorised firearms officers.

With the authority of the Home Secretary the use of Taser was broadened to Specially Trained Units, officers who undertake routine patrol duties in each of our territorial districts and have, as one of a number of options, Taser available to them.

“All of our Specially Trained Units are required to deploy with body worn video cameras whenever they are carrying Taser.”

The Force added: “The Force Chief Officer Team continue to monitor the use of Taser on a daily basis for firing and drive stuns and on a monthly basis in terms of overall use and trends.

“Additionally a Chief Inspector in every police area is responsible for reviewing every use of Taser by their staff.

“West Yorkshire Police have maintained strategic focus upon Taser and have continued to ensure that West Yorkshire Officers follow a Criteria for Use. 

“This very much enhances its proportionate and legitimate application. 

“We feel that this serves to protect the public and support officers who often find themselves in a position of making some very challenging decisions in difficult circumstances. 

“The figures provided represent the number of times an officer has drawn Taser from its holster and includes occasions where further uses have then been completed due to the threat and risk faced, it is not the number of occasions the officer has discharged the device. 

“Drawing Taser is required in order to aim, red dot, arc and discharge the device. 

“The Force is currently engaged on an uplift programme raising the number of Specially Trained Officers by 25 per cent by the end of March 2022.”

Taser was first authorised for use by UK forces in 2008, with the rollout completed five years later. Use of force statistics for England and Wales from the Home Office shows usage of the devices has increased. 

There were 16,900 uses of Taser in the year ending March 2018, rising to 23,500 in the 12 months to March 2019. 

The latest data, for the year ending March 2020, showed a 37 per cent increase on the previous period – to 32,100, in part explained by much greater take-up by forces.