SPECIALLY trained police officers from across Avon and Somerset are to be armed with Taser guns. Avon and Somerset Constabulary is one of 10 forces across the country taking part in a 12 month Home Office trial which allows non-firearms unit officers to b

SPECIALLY trained police officers from across Avon and Somerset are to be armed with Taser guns.Avon and Somerset Constabulary is one of 10 forces across the country taking part in a 12 month Home Office trial which allows non-firearms unit officers to be trained to use the weapons.All 30 officers have been selected from the force's support groups, which already specialise in dealing with conflict situations and violent or potentially violent offenders.The Taser is a hand held device which discharges an electrical current to temporarily incapacitate a person, causing them to fall to the ground or 'freeze' on the spot. Its effects are short lived but designed to give officers the opportunity to take control of the offender and situation.Anyone who has had a Taser gun used against them is checked by a medical practitioner.Superintendent Adrian Coombs, who is in charge of the project, said: "Tasers have proved excellent weapons for officers faced with violent offenders threatening to harm themselves, officers or other members of the public."The fact that Tasers can be used up to a distance of seven metres away means we can now deal with these situations without having to rely on armed officers only.