Controversial US-style stun-guns have been used by West Yorkshire Police more often than any other force apart from the Met.

Figures provided in response to a Freedom of Information request reveal the West Yorkshire force's officers have been equipped with the Taser weapons 56 times and on almost half of those occasions they have drawn and aimed them.

Officers have shot the 50,000-volt stun weapons 20 times and in an additional five instances fired them as a "demonstration or warning". On one occasion an officer had to point a Taser at close range.

Only specially-trained firearms officers can use the guns under present guidelines. But now rank-and-file police officers want the use of Tasers extended to more police officers as a major part of their arsenal to tackle crime.

Tom McGhie, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: "We believe the use of Tasers is the less-lethal option for firearms officers instead of using their firearms. But what we would like to see is the use extended to officers who are on reactive patrol. We believe they are a piece of vital officer safety equipment."

According to the figures released by the Home Office only the Metropolitan Police have used stun-guns, which temporarily incapacitate, more often against their targets. Figures show the London officers have used or threatened to use the weapon in 147 incidents since April 2003 when it was one of the forces across the country to pilot the scheme.

However, West Yorkshire only introduced the guns in July 2005 - meaning its usage of 56 is the equivalent to three incidents a month, the same as their London colleagues.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The Taser gun was introduced to West Yorkshire in July 2005 and it is seen as an option for use in a situation where firearms authority has been granted in accordance with criteria in the Association of Chief Police Officer's manual of guidance on police use of firearms."

Five police forces across England and Wales began trialling Tasers in 2003. In September 2004, the Home Secretary authorised chief officers throughout England and Wales to deploy Taser weapons.

Since then, there have been 572 incidents nationwide involving the Taser, which has been drawn and aimed 301 times, fired as a demonstration or warning 27 times, applied as a stun-drive 26 times and fired 218 times.

The figures come days after police used a Taser gun on a man in Bradford after being called to his house amid claims he was self-harming. He threatened officers with knives.

Tasers look like a fluorescent pistol and use compressed air to fire two darts that trail an electric cable back to the handset. When the darts strike, a five-second 50,000-volt charge is released down the cable, causing the suspect's muscles to contract uncontrollably.

According to a poll by the Police Federation representative body, 89 per cent of officers want to see the use of Tasers extended.

At present, only firearms officers are allowed to carry the weapons. The poll found 45 per cent wanted more officers trained to use Tasers and 44 per cent wanted them handed to all front-line officers.

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