A FIREARMS officer has moved to reassure the public that the stun guns issued by Wiltshire Police are safe and necessary tools in the fight against crime.

Inspector Robert Lisseman-Edge, of the armed response group, was responding to health and human rights fears raised by civil liberties group Amnesty International, as reported in last week's Journal.

He described tasers as "an important less-lethal option" for the constabulary in keeping the county safe.

This is despite Amnesty's claim that the 50,000-volt electric shocks delivered by the guns had been responsible for more than 70 deaths in the United States and Canada.

"The issues raised by Amnesty International were taken into account by the Home Office, and the medical effects have been considered at a government level," said Inspector Lisseman-Edge. "The weapon is a viable operational tool for us to use to deal with society's most dangerous and threatening individuals."

Tasers have been deployed to officers in Wiltshire since January, despite no public announcement at the time that they were to be used in the county.

Inspector Lisseman-Edge said the guns were only available to authorised firearms officers, and could only be used at incidents where the criteria for the use of firearms had been satisfied.

"There are a number of safeguards within the weapon itself, the training and its operational deployment to prevent unlawful and excessive use," he said.

"The taser provides a viable alternative to the baton gun and it will be used responsibly where an effective deterrent or incapacitate is required by officers seeking to control violent and dangerous persons."

Stun guns have been made available to police chiefs across the country after a 12-month pilot in five forces, including the Metropolitan Police.

They deployed the guns 60 times in that period and used it 13 times, reporting that, in most cases, the sight of the taser was enough to force a suspect to surrender.

Inspector Lisseman-Edge added that both officers and management had received extensive training over the use of stun guns.

He said this would ensure that the taser would only be used by "trained and skilled staff in the correct environment and in the correct and safest way for all concerned - police, public and suspect".