Thames Valley Police have used Tasers on dogs and children according to a new report

    It comes after a sharp rise in the use of police Tasers in 2017-18, with 17,000 recorded incidents of the weapons being drawn across the country.

    Sky News sent freedom of information requests to every UK force to find out the ages of people who were shot or stunned with the weapons between January 2016 and November 2018.

    Forces were also asked to provide the number of incidents involving animals in the same period.

    It comes after a sharp rise in the use of police Tasers in 2017-18, with 17,000 recorded incidents of the weapons being drawn - up 51% on the previous 12 months - including 2,000 occasions when they were discharged by officers.

    Thames Valley Police responded confirming it fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 63. It also tasered four dogs - one in 2017 and three in 2018.

    Other police forces reported as follows

    Avon and Somerset

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 16 to 65. It said it also fired a Taser at one "dangerous dog".

    Bedfordshire

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 18-34 and the oldest was 50-64.

    It did not say whether any animals were tasered.

    Cambridgeshire

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 18-34 and the oldest was 65 or over.

    It did not say whether any animals were tasered.

    Cheshire

    The force declined to provide an answer, saying retrieving the information would exceed the time and cost limit set out under the Freedom of Information Act.

    City of London

    Sky News did not receive a response

    Cleveland

    The force said the youngest person tasered was 17, while the oldest was 60. It said it had "no information" on whether any animals were tasered because "this information is not recorded".

    Cumbria

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 14 to 64.

    The 14-year-old girl was tasered "as a last resort tactic" after she claimed to have a machete and was threatening to harm herself, officers said.

    The force said it fired Tasers at three dogs.

    Derbyshire

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 16 to 61. No animals were tasered.

    Devon and Cornwall

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Dorset

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 25 to 59. No animals were tasered.

    Durham

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 17 to 62. No animals were tasered.

    Dyfed-Powys

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest was aged 18-25 and the oldest 56-60.

    Dyfed-Powys Police said it had not tasered any animals.

    Essex

    The force did not provide the ages of people tasered. It said one animal was tasered in 2018 but the "breed [was] unknown".

    Gloucestershire

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Greater Manchester

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 65 and five dogs were tasered.

    In 2016, a pit bull was drive-stunned and another was tasered twice; in 2017 a pit bull was tasered twice; and in 2018, a Staffordshire bull terrier and an American pit bull were tasered.

    Gwent

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Hampshire

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 14 to 71 years old and three dogs were tasered.

    Hertfordshire

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 11-17 and the oldest was 60-64.

    It did not say whether any animals were tasered.

    Humberside

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 60. It also tasered one dog described as a Staffordshire bull terrier.

    Kent

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 71. Two dogs were also tasered.

    Lancashire

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 59. It also used a Taser in drive-stun mode on one dog.

    Leicestershire

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest was aged 18-30 and the oldest was aged 31-64. No animals were tasered.

    Lincolnshire

    The force did not provide the ages of those tasered, saying the information was not available within the time and cost limit under the Freedom of Information Act.

    No animals were tasered.

    Merseyside

    The force said it fired Tasers at people aged 13 to 55. No animals were tasered.

    Metropolitan Police

    The force only provided the ages of those tasered for the year 2016, saying officers fired the weapons at people aged 15 to 77.

    Four dogs were tasered in 2016, including a bullmastiff, one pit bull and two "pit bull types".

    The Met Police did not say whether animals were tasered in 2017 or 2018

    Norfolk

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 10-15 and the oldest was over 50.

    Norfolk Police said it held "no relevant information" on whether any animals were tasered.

    North Wales

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 17 to 55. It also tasered three dogs.

    North Yorkshire

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Northamptonshire

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Northumbria

    The force declined to provide an answer, saying retrieving the information would exceed the time and cost limit set out under the Freedom of Information Act.

    Nottinghamshire

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Police Scotland

    The force said tasers were fired at people aged 20 to 49.

    Police Scotland said it had not tasered any animals.

    Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    South Wales

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    South Yorkshire

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 18 to 70. It also used a Taser in angled-drive stun mode on a pit bull dog in 2017.

    Staffordshire

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 16 to 56. It also tasered a dog in 2017.

    Suffolk

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 16-20 and the oldest was over 50.

    Norfolk Police said it held "no relevant information" on whether any animals were tasered.

    Surrey

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Sussex

    Sky News did not receive a response.

    Warwickshire

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 17 to 61. One dog was tasered in 2017.

    West Mercia

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 17 to 60. One dog was tasered in 2017.

    West Midlands

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 15 to 73. It also tasered three dogs in 2016.

    West Yorkshire

    The force fired Tasers at people aged 14 to 62.

    The 14-year-old boy was tasered in August after he allegedly attacked an officer after a burglary.

    In January 2017, a 16-year-old armed with a knife was tasered after reportedly making threats.

    One dog was tasered in 2018.

    Wiltshire

    The force did not provide specific ages but said the youngest person tasered was aged 11-17 and the oldest was 65 or over. It also tasered one dog.

    © Sky News 2018

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