Number of Taser police increased

The number of officers trained to carry Tasers in Cumbria will increase to 198

The number of police in Cumbria to carry Taser "stun-guns" is to be increased in a move to help provide round-the-clock public protection.

Cumbria police are doubling the number of officers specially trained to carry the weapons from next month.

An additional 100 police officers will carry Tasers across the Workington, Whitehaven, Carlisle and Barrow areas.

Tasers were introduced in Cumbria in 2005. A Taser uses an electric shock to disrupt control of muscles.

In 2007 Taser roll-out was extended across the UK to specially trained units in pilot areas, allowing for some non-firearms officers to use them in certain violent situations.

National policy

They will now be rolled-out to specially trained officers across the country.

In Cumbria, the number of officers trained to carry Tasers is going up to 198.

Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham, said: "In line with national policy, we have invested in specially training more officers to be able to take advantage of this effective tool, and make sure that when violence or threats of violence do occur we are able to respond appropriately, effectively and quickly.

"Taser provides officers with another option to diffuse high-risk situations, protect the public and enable them to safely deal with violent offenders, rather than use other techniques that might result in injury."