At least seven people have died following the use of Tasers by Italian law enforcement since 2022 [1].
These deaths highlight a growing concern over the lethal potential of non-lethal weapons and a systemic lack of transparency regarding how they are deployed. Without a centralized tracking system, advocates argue that police accountability remains limited.
According to reports, four of the seven deaths occurred within a single two-month period in 2025 [1]. The Antigone association has raised alarms regarding the increasing frequency of these incidents and the absence of a national searchable register to document Taser use [1].
Data suggests a significant increase in the severity of these interventions. In 2022, 40% of interventions ended with dart explosions [3]. By 2025, that figure rose to 70% [4].
A representative of Antigone said, "Può essere letale, va limitato" [2].
The association is calling for a shift toward greater public communication and the implementation of independent investigations into deaths and serious injuries resulting from these weapons. A spokesperson for Antigone said, "I casi di decesso, lesioni gravi o utilizzi controversi del Taser dovrebbero essere oggetto di comunicazioni pubbliche, indagini indipendenti e pubblicazione" [2].
Currently, there is no national searchable register of Taser incidents in Italy [1]. This gap in record-keeping prevents the public and oversight bodies from identifying patterns of misuse, or assessing the actual safety profile of the devices when used by police.
“At least seven people have died following the use of Tasers by Italian law enforcement since 2022.”
The rise in Taser-related deaths and the increasing rate of dart explosions suggest that these tools are being deployed in ways that exceed their intended non-lethal purpose. The lack of a national register creates a transparency vacuum, making it difficult to determine if these fatalities are the result of individual officer error or a broader systemic failure in training and protocol.
