Police unveil stun gun (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police unveil stun gun

A STUN gun that delivers a 50,000-volt shock can now be used by police in Wiltshire. The taser gun, which temporarily disables dangerous offenders, was demonstrated at police headquarters, Devizes, on Friday.

It has been trialled by specially trained officers since January but will now be used by armed response units across the county.

The stun gun fires needle-tipped darts to a distance of up to 21ft, giving the offender a 50,000-volt shock, allowing officers several seconds to move in and apply handcuffs.

Costing £500 a gun, they will only be used in the most hazardous environment, such as when confronting those with knives or guns.

Chief Supt Julian Kirby said: "This is the most dangerous action of policing we deal with and in Wiltshire that's as low as we could hope.

"The taser gun protects the offenders and the police officers, and in terms of public safety and officer safety I think it's a fantastic piece of kit.

"There is no bruising, broken bones or anything like that. The worst injuries are small puncture wounds if it goes into the flesh."

Chief Supt Kirby said since they were introduced in January, the guns have never been fired and put this down to the psychological effect it has on those facing it.

"All the evidence across the county is the psychological impact of being faced with this equipment is that offenders almost invariably give up before it's used.

"I'm hoping we never use it, in the same way we don't want to use firearms or batons or CS gas."

Despite the taser giving officers an alternative to the more lethal firearm, human rights groups say the shock can be potentially life-threatening to people with weak hearts, or those on drugs.

A spokesman for Amnesty International said: "Amnesty International is extremely concerned that these weapons have never been properly tested and should be before being deployed anywhere in Britain."

However, Chief Supt Kirby said: "Whenever you are dealing with lethal force you are always going to have safety concerns but it's been tested and tested by the police support department who work for the Home Office.

"When you think of being hit by a bullet or struck by a baton it's a much better alternative."