Stun gun used only five times

Date article online: 13/05/2008

The controversial US-style stun gun was used only five times in three months, by Greater Manchester Police, latest figures have revealed.

Figures released by the Home Office show the weapon, which can temporarily incapacitate a target with up to 50,000 volts, has been used 32 times between 2004 and the end of February by GMP Police.

Previous figures showed it had been used 27 times up to the end of November last year — meaning it has been used just five times in three months. According to the Government, since the weapon was introduced in Greater Manchester, the force has fired the weapon 14 times and drive-stunned it six, which means the barbs are taken out and used up close on a suspect.

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. In most cases they have not needed to be fired; drawing or aiming the Taser has been enough of a deterrent.

“Protection of officers and members of the public is clearly our highest priority.”

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.