Taser is the brand name of the conducted energy device that the Home Office has approved for UK police forces. It's been used in the UK since 2003 and in Lancashire since 2009.

Whilst it's rare that a Taser is fired in Lancashire, we feel it’s important to give you an idea about the training officers receive and how Taser helps to keep people safe.

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Dr. John Skinner specializes in police policy and evidence-based crime reduction strategies. He has taught at Towson University since 2004. In addition to teaching, Dr. Skinner is a criminal justice subject matter expert and technical advisor for the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance.

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Taser provides an additional option to resolve situations that might include violent behaviour. Sometimes using a Taser is the most appropriate option as it can help to resolve dangerous situations safely and with a lower risk of serious injury.

There are a range of other measures which officers can use as alternatives to Taser such as physical restraint, batons, and PAVA spray. Much will depend upon the circumstances, but Taser will often be the safest way to resolve a situation. In the majority of cases involving Taser, the mere threat of its use has been enough to defuse a situation and ensure a peaceful resolution.

The course, which follows national standards and guidelines, includes a number of detailed assessments on decision making, scenario based incidents, the use of force, dealing with vulnerable people, and medical implications.

Tasers use an electrical current to temporarily incapacitate a suspect. Extensive medical and scientific tests were carried out before Taser was approved for use.

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Dr. Skinner is also a former Deputy Police Commissioner and a 21-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department.  As Deputy Police Commissioner, he was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of the agency's Operations Bureau which included all aspects of the Department's criminal investigations, tactical and patrol operations.  He was awarded Police Officer of the Year in 2010 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness for his collaborative partnerships in training police officers. In 2009, he was recognized by the United States Department of Justice for the development of the Patrol Response Survey, an evaluation program that measures the community's perception of police performance.  Dr. Skinner was also named "Baltimorean of the Year" by Baltimore Magazine for the creation of the Community Safe Zone Project, a nationally recognized community-policing strategy.

All of our officers selected to use Taser must pass an intensive four-day training course before becoming qualified Taser operators.

Ph.D., Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2020M.S., Criminal Justice, University of Baltimore, 2001B.S., Criminal Justice, University of Dayton, 1992

Officers must account for each time they remove a Taser from the holster. This justification is checked by a number of levels of supervision. All Taser deployments are recorded and submitted to the Home Office and are subject to a variety of levels of scrutiny from within Lancashire Constabulary.

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Once qualified, officers must complete an annual one day refresher course along with personal safety and first aid training.

Training doesn't just focus on the Taser itself - it helps officers to fine tune existing skills and teaches them the importance of communication, justification and other procedures such as first aid.

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Officers equipped with a Taser don't use it lightly. They are trained to assess and continually re-asses a situation and must decide on the most reasonable and necessary use of force in the circumstances. The level of force used must be proportionate and officers are individually accountable in law for the amount of force they use.

We have clear procedures for using Taser and a team of officers who continually review what we do and how we do it. This makes sure that Taser is used correctly to protect both the public and officers.

The course combines practical scenarios with classroom based learning and officers are continuously assessed. The scenarios aim to test the officer's decision making and use of relevant legislation around the use of force. Officers are also tested in recognising medical emergencies and any adverse reactions.

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A Taser is usually held in a holster on an officer's body armour but it can be carried in other positions, along with other officer safety equipment. It's designed to stand out so is easy to spot and identify.

Dr. Skinner has a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is a graduate of JINSA’s international homeland security exchange program with the Israel National Police Force.

A Taser is a bright yellow, hand-held, electronic device. It's only used by highly trained officers and in situations where they need to deal with violent people at a distance.

When an officer considers there to be an imminent use or threat of violence they can consider using Taser in a number of ways.