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TASER guns would be useful tools for all police officers, says one of the weapon's lead officers in Gwent.

PC Grayson Church has led the introduction of taser guns in Gwent since April 2004.

The weapon, which shoots a barb allowing an electric current to immobilise the person shot, was originally only used by Gwent Police in firearms offences.

But for the last 12 months the force has trialled using taser in other violent incidents where weapons are involved.

Yesterday, the Home Office released statistics for taser use and the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she could envisage the device being rolled out to all UK officers in future.

And while PC Church said there were no current plans within Gwent to implement such a roll-out, he said he agreed taser would be a valuable tool for all officers.

The figures showed that taser was deployed to 27 incidents in Gwent in the last four years, but was only fired five times.

PC Church says these statistics illustrate one of the most useful features of taser.

"The feedback I get from officers is that the majority of incidents are resolved through the presence of the taser alone, without them actually having to use it."

Increasingly, he says, once the violent or hostile person involved sees the tell-tale red laser dot upon them, it is usually enough to guarantee compliance.

PC Church said: "The trials of taser in Gwent have gone very very well.

"The alternatives are more random, be they baton, cuffs or ultimately firearms.

"Taser is the only weapon that renders the person incapacitated, without risking serious injury, and which does not involve pain-compliance."

This, he says, is particularly important when dealing with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol, who may not be sensitive to pain.

He said: "Taser is already saving lives across Gwent."

He added that the number of officers suffering injury had dropped since taser was brought in and that officer confidence had improved.

4:40pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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