The evaluation was undertaken to allow the Home Office to make an informed decision about the future use of taser devices by law enforcement within the United Kingdom. Following the introduction in chapter 1, chapter 2 describes the seven taser models evaluated for this report. The taser descriptions underscore the differences in each model and the performance of the models in a series of in-house tests. Chapter 3 discusses the taser handling trials conducted with 64 police and prison officers from 20 different police forces. The generic capabilities and limitations of the taser devices were assessed and the taser models were compared on their performances. Chapter 4 offers statistics on taser effectiveness ratings and reasons for failure and presents information on the international use of tasers. Chapter 5 examines the Operational Requirement of the Home Office for less lethal weapons and analyzes how taser devices fit within this Operational Requirement. Chapter 6 concludes that tasers generally fit into the police Operational Requirement for less lethal options; their biggest drawback lies in their maximum possible range of only 21 feet and maximum general effectiveness range of 15 feet. Further research should be conducted on the cardiac effects from taser waveforms, particularly in cases of pre-existing heart disease. Figures, tables, references, appendixes