Record high of children tasered by Thames Valley Police
There's been a 71% rise in children being tasered across Thames Valley last year, compared to the year before
New figures show that tasers fired against children in Thames Valley has hit a record high, with 12 incidents recorded in 2025.
Last year there was also a 71% rise in children being tasered by Thames Valley Police (TVP), compared to the year before.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, there was 7 incidents of tasers being discharged against children.
Nationally there was 49 incidents during this time, meaning Thames Valley Police are responsible for around 14% of incidents all police forces in England and Wales, including the Metropolitan Police.
We also understand that no child under the age of 11 has been subject to a taser.
Louise King, Director of Children's Rights Alliance for England said: "Firing a taser can have a real traumatic impact on children, they've told us how scary and frightening it is to have a taser used on them.
"Tasers can cause more physical risk to children, meaning they're more likely to have a brain injury or eye injuries or injuries to their organs, including the lungs or the liver."
Adding: "These figures show that Thames Valley isn't actually taking a child first approach to policing. I think there needs to definitely be enhanced training to ensure they're taking a child first approach."
Ms King also said: "One of the things that is not always appreciated, is that children who come into contact with the police are some of the vulnerable in society.
"They've often been in care, which means they've experienced trauma, harm, abuse in their lives. They're also often neurodiverse and could be victims of child criminal exploitation.
"So obviously to have such an interaction with the police where a taser has been used only compounds the trauma and harm that they've already experienced in their lives."
'Any use of force is always considered as a last resort'
Tasers being discharged against people of all ages has been falling over the last few years. Although, it is still 20% higher than figures from 2020.
Meanwhile, the number of taser deployments involving young people under the age of 18 has increased year on year.
TVP says this is “proportionately related to an increase in the number of Taser-trained officers within the Thames Valley Police area”.
In a statement, Thames Valley Police say, “it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a young adult in a threatening situation to a youth, but decisions to activate and fire a Taser are scrutinised heavily and must always be rationalised.”
Adding: “It is very important to stress that use of Taser is only ever deployed in situations where there is a perceived immediate serious threat of harm to officers, members of the public, or to a suspect.
“On the vast majority of occasions, a suspect knowing that a Taser may be deployed is enough to de-escalate the situation.
“Our Taser-trained officers are highly skilled, and must attend regular refresher training on an annual basis.
“The use of any force, including deployment of a Taser, is always considered as a last resort, and particularly in the case of young people.”
A spokesperson added: “All our Taser officers are equipped with Body worn video (BWV) and any actual deployment of Taser is reviewed by a Taser Manager of at least the rank of a Police Inspector or a Taser lead instructor in line with national guidance.”
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “Tasers are an important tool of protection for officers and a proportionate use of force, used as a last resort.
"Rightly, there is heavy scrutiny around their use, particularly on the infrequent occasion where they used in a case involving someone under the age of 18.”