Tasers could be issued to all police officers after a trial found that they deterred violent criminals, it was disclosed today.

The 50,000-volt stun guns, introduced to Britain in 2003, are mainly used by firearms officers at present.

But a 12-month experiment by ten English and Welsh forces has found that they can help defuse stand-offs even without being fired.

During the ongoing trial, which began last September, their deployment soared 15 times, while firing of the devices tripled.

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The Home Office is reportedly due to make an announcement on their extension later today.

"Taser is making a real difference on our streets, not only keeping the public safe but also protecting police officers," Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, told the Sun newspaper.

"I am committed to giving our police officers the weapons they need. If the trial shows the Taser to be a valuable tool, I can envisage a day when they could be routinely issued to all officers."

In the first six months of the pilot scheme Tasers were deployed on 252 occasions, 236 of which were in the last three months.

Full article here.