EXCLUSIVE: Stun gun for every officer
Police officers with no firearms training, as well as those with specialist weapon skills, are expected to be given extra powers by the Home Office before the end of the year.
It would mean that within a few months every police officer would have the power to incapacitate a violent suspect with the 50,000-volt device.
Simon Pawsey, acting firearms operations inspector, said: "The Taser has proved a very effective means of conflict resolution and we expect the Home Office will agree."
Since September 2007 the Devon and Cornwall police force has been one of 10 nationwide testing the effectiveness of the electrical device.
After studying the results the Home Office is expected to decide in December whether non-firearms officers can continue to carry Tasers. Police in the region are confident they will be given the extra powers.
"We haven't decided on the policy yet should the Home Office agree to the use of Tasers. But we will certainly be looking at increasing the number of officers who can have access to them," said Insp Pawsey.
"From my personal point of view I'd like to see a lot more officers with them. It may be soon or in a few years' time."
Currently police carry a Captor spray and extendable baton on their belts in case of emergencies. The results of the trial have been so effective that the Taser could soon join them as a means of making arrests easier.
According to the latest figures the devices have been fired 28 times in Devon and Cornwall since they were first introduced in 2005.
There have been an extra 73 instances when the devices were drawn and pointed at suspects but not fired. Since the start of this year there have been more than 600 instances when the use of Tasers has been authorised to deal with a violent incident, but not necessarily used.
There have been no deaths or serious injuries.
Non-firearms officers, part of the Tactical Aid Group, are trained to show officers how to use the stun guns.
A 12-month trial in Torbay ended on August 31 and the Home Office is currently assessing the results.
However, ministers are known to favour giving police the extra weaponry to make arrests.
Tasers temporarily paralyse the suspect but, used correctly, cause no long-term harm.
Insp Pawsey said the weapons acted as a deterrent against violence.
He said: "I think they are an excellent device.
"The main thing for us is that complaints against police are down and assaults against police are down.
"Police officer injuries are down and the Taser is part of the reason for that."
During the trial period complaints of assaults against police officers were down 10 per cent. During one quarter period there was a 21 per cent reduction in assaults on police officers.
Insp Pawsey said: "I think the general feeling is that it has been successful. During the trial period our professional standards department has shown no complaints received as a result of Tasers being used on a person."
Tasers were first introduced in Devon and Cornwall in 2005.
However, only firearms-trained officers were initially given the power to use them and only as an alternative to lethal force.
Concerns were raised that officers might use them in the wrong situations but in 2007 they were given the power to use Tasers in less serious incidents.
Human rights groups have raised concerns about the use of Tasers on unarmed people. In the US and Canada there have been about 70 deaths due to misuse.
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