WEST Mercia Police has announced it plans to train extra officers to use Taser stun guns.

Currently, about 173 officers in the force - which covers Wyre Forest - are trained to use the device and West Mercia intends to boost its numbers by training 60 more at a cost of about £40,000.

A Taser delivers an electrical charge to the person it is fired at, causing a temporary loss of voluntary muscle control which makes them freeze or fall to the ground, allowing an officer to gain control of them.

It is hoped by making the stun guns more widely available, it will increase the force’s capability to protect communities from harm.

Deputy chief con Simon Chesterman, Association of Chief Police Officers lead for Tasers, said: “Taser is a weapon and as such it is not a risk free option.

“Government independent medical advisors describe the risks from the electricity as very low and slightly higher where the person may have an underlying heart condition or is of small stature.

“These risks are covered in the training and ultimately Taser is often a less injurious tactical option when compared to a baton strike or a dog bite.”

Tasers were fired 30 times between April 2012 and March 2013 across the West Mercia force area - Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford and Wrekin.

They can only be used by officers who have been selected and provided with training in the use of the weapon. Training will begin next month and officers should be fully operational towards the end of the year.

Deputy chief con Chesterman said Tasers were rarely fired and their presence alone was often enough to resolve a conflict.

“Deployment is usually linked to alcohol related crime, domestic abuse incidents and violence linked to the night time economy where a person is posing a threat of serious harm to another person, themselves or a police officer,” he added.