Police officers in Scotland are slated to begin using a new, more powerful version of the Taser electroshock weapon, known as the Taser 10, beginning in 2028. This decision comes as the region grapples with rising violent crime and an increasing number of assaults on law enforcement officers. The Taser 10, manufactured by the US firm Axon Enterprise, boasts significant upgrades over the current Taser X2 model used by Police Scotland. It can fire up to ten electrical probes without reloading and has double the range, extending to 45 feet, compared to the X2's 25 feet.
Officials state the new weapon is intended to better protect officers and enhance public safety. Documents indicate that Police Scotland will commence the use of the Home Office-approved Taser 10 in 2028. The device, which costs approximately £1,000, features a green laser sight for aiming. It operates by firing a barb into a suspect; the first shot does not carry an electrical charge. A second trigger pull fires another barb, completing the circuit and delivering a 1,000-volt shock to incapacitate the target.
The Taser 10 has already been approved by the UK Home Office and is being adopted by several police forces in England. However, its introduction has been met with reservations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons. The committee has warned that the Taser 10's probes possess higher kinetic energy and momentum than previous models. This, they stated, is likely to increase the severity of skin wounds and the potential for deeper penetrating injuries.
The committee specifically highlighted that critical areas such as the skull, lung cavity, abdominal organs, and major blood vessels in the groin, neck, and armpits may be at increased risk of injury, potentially leading to life-threatening outcomes. Experts also raised concerns about the risk to children, who could suffer puncture wounds, be knocked over by the probe's force, or sustain injuries to the face or head due to their smaller stature.
Amnesty International UK has criticized the planned rollout, arguing that equipping police with a 'ten-shot super Taser' without strengthening the rules governing its use raises significant safety concerns. Concurrently, frontline officers are advocating for broader access to Tasers. The Scottish Police Federation has called for the number of officers equipped with these weapons to increase from the current approximately 2,000 to 6,500.
Police Scotland has declined to provide specific details regarding the Taser 10, stating only that "planning is ongoing."