There are two points I'd like to make. To answer your question generally, our practices are similar across the country. There may be variations, depending on some circumstances, but I'd need to hear what they would be specifically.
For example, ours is based on the generally agreed upon principle in policing that the behaviour of the subject has to be assaultive in nature. There may be some services that have defined “assaultive” perhaps more liberally. I'm not in a position to comment on that because I haven't seen some of that material.
I was just reminded of this by the chair, and I'd like to pick up on it. In the deployment of the taser, there are three modes. One of the modes is called force demonstration. That's just activating the device in front of the subject to demonstrate that we have such a tool and that we can use it if necessary. The taser has two signals on it. One is a laser sight that lights up. The other is that we can spark the electrodes so you can just see and hear a little crackle of electricity. So we may demonstrate that we have the capability to apply this instrument. That is considered an exercise of the use of force, but obviously it doesn't come in contact with the individual. That's just force demonstration.
There may be a situation when we have yet to move in to take control of the individual, but just to make sure there's no misunderstanding about how seriously we're taking this situation and the fact that the person is subject to a lawful arrest, we might spark the device just to let the person know we have it. In many cases, that is the mode of deployment the Toronto police have used.
The second mode of deployment is touching the device to the individual, and that's called “drive stun”. It's just a technical term. You actually apply the device, but you don't let go of it or discharge the darts. The third mode is when you actually discharge the darts, and you do that from a distance.
So those are the three modes. What we're hoping for is the minimum use of force, or the least intrusive use of force.