Tasers used 22 times in 3 months

10:23pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

Controversial Taser stun guns have been used by West Yorkshire Police almost twice a week recently, latest figures have revealed.

Home Office statistics show the weapon, which can temporarily incapacitate a target with up to 50,000 volts, has been used 137 times between 2004 and the end of February.

Previous figures showed it had been used 115 times up to the end of November last year - meaning it has been used 22 times in just three months.

Tasers use compressed air to fire two darts which trail an electric cable back to the handset. When the darts strike, a five-second charge is released down the cable, causing the suspect's muscles to contract uncontrollably.

In the 137 incidents in which an officer has used a taser since they were introduced in West Yorkshire, only 55 such incidents have led to the weapon actually being fired. In 61 cases the suspect surrendered when a taser's red aiming dot was placed on them.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: "Tasers have contributed to resolving incidents without injury where otherwise there would have been a real possibility of someone being seriously injured or killed.

"Protection of officers and members of the public is clearly our highest priority. The Government will be closely monitoring the trial to evaluate Taser's benefits against any risks."

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