Police to begin using taser guns

Taser stun guns are used by police forces in Britain

A small number of police officers in Northern Ireland will begin training in the use of taser stun guns next week, the PSNI has said.

Twelve of the guns will be used by specialist response teams, but not by ordinary officers.

Members of the Policing Board have raised concerns that the scheme is going ahead without an equality impact assessment having been completed.

However, the PSNI said it could proceed without breaching human rights laws.

The move has been criticised by Amnesty International who said it was deeply disappointed by the decision.

"Tasers potentially pose a disproportionate risk to many of our most vulnerable citizens, the pregnant, those with mental health or drug problems and those with heart complaints," a spokesperson said.

Tasers are already used by police forces in England, Scotland, Wales and the USA.