Use of taser guns by the police

Q: What is a taser gun and how does it work?

A taser is a hand-held electro-shock weapon, designed to incapacitate someone temporarily. It looks like a pistol, but is bright yellow. It fires two dart-like electrodes that send an electrical current into a person’s body, causing strong involuntary muscle contractions. A person shot with a taser will either stop in their tracks or drop to the ground.

Q: Who can make a claim against the police?

Anyone who has had their rights infringed or has been treated unfairly by a public body can make a claim. You can also claim on behalf of people who can’t make decisions for themselves, (e.g. adults with certain mental illnesses or brain injuries, or children).

The police are allowed to carry taser guns but can only use them when absolutely necessary. You have the right to be safe and unharmed in the custody of the police.

If you have been mistreated, you may be able to bring a claim against them and get compensation.

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When are police allowed to use a taser gun?

To be justified in using a taser, the police officer must:

Follow correct procedure
Be faced with serious threat of violence
Consider that the use of the taser is reasonable and proportionate to the threat
Ensure anyone shot with a taser is examined by a doctor shortly afterwards.

In the moment, what counts as a “serious threat” and how much force is “reasonable” is within their judgement. They may not always make the right call. Many people have been injured by tasers during peaceful protests, in some cases when they’ve already been handcuffed.

There can be serious implications for your health, including emotional trauma, breathing problems, complications if the person is on drugs, and even death by triggering a heart attack.

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Our team are here to ensure people receive the care, respect, and advocacy they deserve.

Fiona McGhie

Partner

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Meet our experts

Fiona McGhie

Partner

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What legal help can I get in claiming against the police?

Challenging the police can feel like an impossible task, especially when you have been made to feel powerless. Anyone can complain to the IOPC, but they deal with huge volumes of complaints and often prioritise the most serious ones (involving serious injury and death). The process can be confusing and very long.

With extensive knowledge of the process and having worked on claims against almost every major police UK force, we will listen to what you have to say, advise on the best route forward, and stand by your side through the entire process.

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We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a taser gun and how does it work?

Who can make a claim against the police?

Who can make a claim?

Anyone who believes they have been subjected to police misconduct may be able to bring legal action against the police. You can also bring a claim on someone else’s behalf if they are unable to – for example if they:
Are a child
Lack mental capacity to instruct solicitors
You can also bring a claim on behalf of a loved one who has died if an inquest finds that the police or other authority was responsible for their death. For more information on how we can represent you at inquest, please visit our Inquests page.

How long do you have to make a claim?

There are strict time limits in place. You have six years to make a claim for wrongful arrest or false imprisonment or three years to make a personal injury claim.

Complaints against the police should be made within 12 months and you may need to provide an explanation if you are logging your complaint after this time has passed.

There may be exceptions if you are claiming on behalf of a child, or bringing a claim on behalf of someone without the mental capacity to bring their own.

What’s The Process For Making A Claim?

First of all, you’ll speak to one of our friendly team on the phone. You can talk to us about your situation, and we’ll assess whether or not we can help you. If we’re able to take your claim forward, we’ll get started right away.

Our expert team will look into your case in detail, compiling evidence to make sure your case is as strong as possible. Where appropriate – for example in the case of personal injury – we’ll obtain expert medical opinion to support your claim and show the impact on your life.

Bringing a claim against the police may involve first filing a police complaint. If this is the case, we’ll be able to advise you through the process. You can find out more about how these complaints are dealt with on our Police Complaints Procedure page. Once we have everything we need, we’ll attempt to settle your claim. Most cases settle out of court and that is always our preferred option, but if this isn’t possible, we will support you through the trial and help you with any court appearance.

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