skip ad

Stun guns have been been given to hundreds of British police officers in a new year-long trial.

The Tasers, which deliver 50,000 volts of electricity throughout the body, have previously only been used by specialist firearms officers, as an alternative to lethal force.

But they have now been made available to ten forces around the UK to deploy in a wider range of circumstances.

However, human rights group Amnesty International is opposed to the move and concerned about the potential consequences.

Director Oliver Sprague said: "We're worried that this could be the start of a slippery slope - towards further arming of the police, or towards a situation like that in the US where Tasers have been widely misused and people have died.

"Because these weapons are potentially lethal, police officers must be trained to the same high standard as they are for using a firearm, receiving intensive, ongoing training to ensure that they only use these dangerous weapons in the right situations."

According to Amnesty International, more than 220 people have died after being shot with Tasers in the US since 2001.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the pilot projects had to be conducted with "great caution and rigour".

"Whilst everybody understands that police officers need to protect themselves in those places where they feel under direct threat, no one wants to see us move down the slippery slope to fully armed US-style policing."

He added: "There remain many questions about Taser gun technology which must be carefully weighed up."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.