Finnish police use stun guns more often, but with caution

Finnish police are increasingly relying on stun guns, with their use rising steadily from 459 instances in 2021 to 565 in 2025, according to statistics from the National Police Board. In the first seven months of 2026, stun guns were deployed 342 times, a slight increase from the 336 times during the same period last year.

Police officials attribute this rise to comprehensive training now provided to all officers on the device's use and a significant increase in the availability of stun guns. This trend comes amid heightened public discussion regarding police use of force and its proportionality. Recent incidents, including a police car ramming a young person in Tuusula and an officer pointing a firearm at a bystander in Tampere, have intensified this scrutiny.

Adding to the concern, a man with an intellectual disability died in Espoo earlier this week after being stunned by police. Police Chief Commissioner Ilkka Koskimäki acknowledged the stun gun as a "hard use-of-force tool" but stated it is "considerably softer than a firearm" and has reduced the use of batons. Traditional batons are largely phased out, replaced by telescopic metal batons. However, legal experts emphasize that stun guns, like other force options such as pepper spray, physical force, and firearms, must be chosen carefully based on the principle of least harm and the specific circumstances of each situation.