Police officers defend use of electric stun gun in Britain

A YEAR-LONG trial of US-style stun guns was launched in Britain yesterday with senior police officers insisting that there was no direct evidence they can cause death.

Specialist firearms officers from five police forces in England and Wales are being equipped with Tasers, a handheld electrical weapon that is designed to incapacitate rather than seriously injure or kill.

Human rights groups, however, have expressed concern about their use.