Bavaria’s patrol police use Tasers 19 times in pilot project

Bavarian patrol police have used Tasers 19 times since a six-month pilot project began in June, BR reported. In 16 cases, the threat of using the conducted electrical impulse device was enough to defuse the situation, according to the Bavarian Interior Ministry.

The trial is taking place at police stations in Schweinfurt, Regensburg-South and Augsburg-Centre. It is intended to assess officers’ experience with Tasers and whether the devices can reduce the need to use firearms.

A working group is monitoring the participating stations. Initial feedback has been positive, with a ministry spokesperson saying officers viewed the device as a valuable additional tool.

For now, Tasers are deployed only by four-person teams. This means they are not an option for smaller stations, where officers generally patrol in pairs. The ministry plans to retain the four-person model, citing both officer safety and the protection of people subjected to police measures.

The trial has also prompted debate about whether Tasers are dangerous or provide a less harmful alternative. The evaluation after the test phase will examine whether their use can prevent firearms from being deployed. Its findings will form the basis for recommendations on how the programme should continue and whether it should be expanded across Bavaria.

Bavarian special units have used Tasers since 2006. Closed units, including the Bavarian support command, have also used them since 2021.