55% increase in stun guns begs public debate on police rules - Burstow

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 20th Nov 2005

New figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrat spokesman for London, Paul Burstow MP, show a significant increase in the deployment of tasar stun guns by the Metropolitan Police over the last year.

The figures show that the number of times stun guns were carried by officers has increased by 55% in the last six months when compared with the previous six months.

Between April and October this year the Met deployed stun guns on 1609 occasions, compared with 1036 times in the preceding six month period - an increase of 55%.

Liberal Democrat Spokesman for London Paul Burstow MP said:

"These figures demonstrate why there is a need for a public debate about policing. The fact that in the last year alone the Met has increasingly deployed and used tasar stun guns demands that debate.

"It is important that the public know what rules the police are working to, both when using stun guns and firearms."