In 2025, Germany begins a landmark deployment of Tasers—officially known as Distanz-Elektro-Impuls-Geräte (DEIG)—for the Bundespolizei (Federal Police). This represents a major step toward modernizing police equipment to improve officer safety and provide effective non-lethal options in confrontations. Heiko Teggatz, Chairman of the German Federal Police Union (DPolG), expressed optimism, saying “Good news for the employees of the Federal Police: The nationwide deployment of remote electro-shock devices (DEIG), or simply ‘Tasers,’ can begin. The first procurement tranche will take place this year, with 5 million euros available. Initially, the acquisition of 10,000 devices is planned.” He adds: “It will take some time until we are fully equipped, but the beginning has been made. The Federal Interior Minister’s commitment has been honored, which we very much welcome.” The intention behind this investment is to close the gap between existing tools like batons and firearms, offering a measured response to threats that protects both officers and civilians.
Use of Tasers Across Europe: Adoption and Controversies
European countries have adopted Tasers at different paces over the last two decades. The Netherlands was among the early users, introducing them as early as 2000. The United Kingdom followed with widespread deployment in the 2000s, incorporating them into standard police equipment accompanied by rigorous training and oversight. France and Belgium also adopted Tasers in the 2010s, mainly restricting their use to special units or controlled scenarios.
Despite their growing use, Tasers have generated significant controversy. Amnesty International in the Netherlands criticized the high frequency of deployments during early pilot phases as excessive and a source of “additional police violence.” In Italy, safety concerns persist due to autopsy reports linking allegedly hundreds of deaths to Taser shocks since the early 2000s, especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with heart conditions.
Germany’s phased rollout builds on pilot programs in several states since 2018, including Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia. These states have reported mostly cautious use, often relying on the threat of the Taser rather than deployment. Nonetheless, the discussion around responsible use continues with a focus on careful monitoring and strict rules.
Former Incidents and Victims of Taser Use in Europe
While Tasers are promoted as safer alternatives to firearms, concerns remain due to reported fatalities following their use. Several incidents occurred in Germany including Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The majority of the involved people were in extreme mental states or under the influence of drugs; official investigations, however, generally did not attribute the deaths directly to the Tasers but rather to cardiac arrest, organ failure, or complications related to the intervention.
Examples include a man in Fulda (2018) who died days after being tasered during a SWAT operation, and cases in other federal states where victims died following Taser use combined with sedation or prior medical conditions. Similar concerns exist elsewhere in Europe—between 2020 and 2022, at least eight deaths following Taser use were documented across the Netherlands, France, and Germany.
European human rights bodies have also expressed caution. The European Court of Human Rights condemned inappropriate Taser use in Bulgaria, citing potential violations of the prohibition against torture. The UN Committee Against Torture has voiced opposition to Tasers in some countries, emphasizing the risk of disproportionate force.
Article and photo have been produced with help of AI (Perpexity & Grok)
