It is not widely advertised that the barbs on a taser are the same as fish-hooks and have to be surgically removed.

steve, harlow, england

I think the taser is a good idea. Does less damage to a person than being hit with a baton and it twice as effective! The public said the same things about CS spray before that eventually became general issue.

Rob, Kent, UK

Aside from taser's deadly potential discharge into a person's body the one using the gun NEVER knows the physical condition of the one he's about to shoot. If you can't predict "HOW" the target's body will react beforehand you shouldn't use the gun. Does the target have heart problems, pacemakers?

Mauricio G, Moncton, Canada

Once people understand how Tasers work, they will realise that any electrical device can be rendered ineffective by open-circuiting or short-circuiting the delivery system. Money would be better spent on improving the art of friendly persuasion. Fewer get hurt that way.

Nick, Crowthorne, UK

Those who believe that Tasers are 'safe' to use should look at news items about police officers seriously injured or who have died as a result of being tasered as part of their daisy-chain training in using the device. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/nov/23/cops-raise-taser-safety-claims/

Brenda , Vancouver, Canada

Note: 320 dead in U.S. from tazer use. Untold damage to others. Police that have experienced the tazer during training are attempting to sue the manufacturer for the harm incurred. In Florida one county only allows officers who have been tazered to carry one. Question the sanity of the promoters.

Gary Pozniak, Chicago, U.S.

the army could do with some new weapons please...

Robert, UK,

I think we should have tasers. They are relitively safe and is a good solution to armed polie. About the Charles DeMenses problem he was shot with a gun not a taser and they did think he was a terrorist.

John, London, UK

..potential to cause “fear” and “damage public confidence” in the police. ...
For a start, what public confidence?? That has long since disappeared. Criminals SHOULD be afraid of the police, not the other way around, they have too many rights these days and get off while victims suffer on and on.

Steve, Bridgend,

If the trails worked, I see no reason for the MET to oppose the increased availability of these weapons, and I fail to see the rationale behind the critics thinking that these weapons would be used on a routine basis. If the trails show that the threat can stop violent incidents, sounds O.K. to me.

Rick Lee, Hull,

After the Menezes fiasco, I wouldn't let any of them loose with a pop-gun.

Robert, Hull, UK

There have been incidents in America where people with that kind of power have abused it. Its potential as a means of torture without the guilt because it's "non-lethal" is a cause for concern.

Do our police really routinely come up against that kind of violence? Or should we leave it to firearms?

Richard, Leeds,

The Metropolitan Police Authority have got it wrong. Why should the police have to fight off the nation's drunks intent on assaulting them, night after night?

Steve Shorter, Whitby, UK

I don't think it's such a bad idea the stun guns - providing they are used wisely and only in emergency only. It's about time police are adequately equipped to deal with violent crimes. And even if they were to use them on a routinely basis - well maybe some people could do with a cold shower.

Annie, Hitchin , UK

The spokesman for ACPO doesn't think a Taser is a weapon.
can we have any confodence that he knows what he is atlking about

r payne, macon, france

Perhaps she'd do better to arm the Police with more time on the streets and cut the paper-work, rather than dabbling in things she clearly doesn't understand.

James Cullup, Oxford,

Jacqui Smith, our esteemed Home Secretary, who smirks when a crime is commited and the personal details of 10,000 law abiding people are displayed on the Internet. No doubt she is now rejoicing in the hounding of old age pensioners, ex servicemen, academics and other assorted "knuckle draggers".

Rob, London, England

Jacqui Smith is dangerously silly.

CP, Glasgow,

320 people have died in America resulting from attacks by police

with tazers on unarmed civilians

c wilkins, hampstead, England

As a serving police officer i welcome the possiblity that taser will be made available to front line officers. It is these officers that attend spontaneous incidents,firearms officers the majority of the time know what they are going to, response officers do not and thus need the option if gas fails

James, Reading , Berkshire

Raised in Newcastle I know just how brutal and arbitrary the police are. With Guns they have deterrent and protection WITH consequences... with these, we have arbitrary use to 'restrain' and only the officers word that it was necessary.

This is a BAD move and allows free use of police aggression

Gary Chapman, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain

The feral teenagers that blight every town in the UK (even in the remotest parts) would be more respectful and compliant if the police carried real guns. In these violent times, a stupid 'baton' or taser aint gonna cut it with the thugs.

Sandy, Boston, U.S.A

Clive Burghard suggests we stop "importing" the people who perpetrate crimes. Well how about "exporting" a few starting with the 12000 or so on the list that was recently made public. I live in what you might call a diverse part of London and I can tell you it's not the "imports" who I am afraid of.

Mark, London,

Who is policing the police??
they are never there when you need them?? (too busy)
American stun guns to terrify and intimidate the population of
Uk prison . con,
Really?
and a ceramic vest will work wonders.
We now have an armed state Police..
WE are unarmed..Why??

rick, newcastle, uK

The cops get 'Tasers' so do I... fairs fair after all!

Vote catching sound bites are no longer acceptable!

We want cops who turn up, not target achievers

when the Taser is pulled so is the hidden gun... ta ta PC Plod!

I will not resign I am, nu labour, I am right! Ms Smith et al

Mick Reilly, Doncaster,

Two of my colleagues were stabbed when detaining two armed burglars,inside an occupied house after they had used baseball bats to gain entry.If they had tasers they would not have been injured.Some people can not appreciate how times have changed and how dangerous people can be.

stuart, merseyside, england

Administering severe pain by a 50000 volt shock sounds a lot like torture to me. Isn't there an absolute prohibition on that in the Human Rights Act. Or does it not count if you aren't seeking information.

Ro, Cheltenham,

No way should we trust today's politicised police "service".
They are not like the bobbies of yesteryear.
As the previous NZ commenter mentioned, it would be preferable for the vetted public to be able to carry firearms for their own protection (against both criminals and the authoritarian state)

Mr Godwin, lancashire, england

Why not make assaulting police officers a serious arrestable offence with mandatory sentencing.
Offenders may then think twice before committing or continuing crimes , instead of not worrying because even serious assaults on police are treated almost with contempt by the courts and paltry £50 fine

Steve Rose, Dorking, England

The police in new Zealand have got Tasers. They also manage to pepper-spray and shoot people. They have truncheons. NZ Police claim the sole right to bear any sort of arms and ordinary citizens are continually prosecuted for using "excessive force" to protect themselves. It's a wonderful world!

Phil Wallington, Auckland, New Zealand.

How about guns with rubber bullets?

At the end of the day the people committing crimes no matter how serious deserve as much pain as possible, however I agree with the difficulty this will cause on where to draw the line.

Rob, Manchester,

Jackboot Jacqui can't turn this country into a fear controlled police state fast enough - she is an evil piece of work - as are all in this twisted government we have.

Dan, London,

People with heart problems are vunerable to death after being tasered. Just look at the Statistics in the US - more tasers = more deaths.The taser should only be used by special response units so it isn't used as a convenient & lazy alternative to general restraint techniques on uncooperative people

Mark stevens, London, UK

With thousands of cases of abuses and many deaths in America i really fail to see how it would help anything. The public is already resentful and suspicous of the police and this will make them hated even more. Jaqui Smith is a true enemy of the people.

George, Liberty,

Instead of continually ramping up laws and measures like this, why not just stop importing those who perpetrate the crimes used to justify our constant loss of freedoms. It should be obvious to anyone that our once decent society is deliberately being destroyed in order to create an Orwellian State.

Clive Burghard, Lancing, ENGLAND

"Time to buy shares in any company that sells chainmail!
Ed, Coventry, UK"
That wouldnt be very smart would it, metal being a conductor and all! Also modern Tasers use shaped pulse charges (electrically emited from the dart), which can penetrate type 3 body armor. Just don't get shot!

Matt, High Wycombe, Bucks

Tasers are a safe way of controlling violent individuals. They will not only protect Police officers from harm but will also protect those that are subjected to being tasered. Violent individuals will not have to be wrestled, CS sprayed or hit with truncheons when officers attempt to arrest.

david, manchester,

I am sick and tired of hearing ever greater weapon demands from the police. The real victims of crime are the general public, and it It is time that vetted members of the public are given back the right to carry arms for their personal defence. Indeed, this was usual in Britain up to 1930.

Simon DeVries, Nelson, New Zealand

Chain mail!?!? More like a rubber wetsuit.

David, Guildford,

I would prefer to give the police guns than tasers as they're less likely to use them indiscriminately. Yes, we had the Stockwell shooting disaster, but tasers tend to be used on 'difficult' subjects, or unnecessarily. How long before a protester outside Parliament gets zapped?

Smith is incompetent

Ryan G, London,

Time to buy shares in any company that sells chainmail!

Ed, Coventry, UK

The Home Secretary said the police needed tools to protect themselves FROM the public

Jake, Small, UK

Taser`s are a good Idea if you can trust the Police there assigned too. Unfortunately a lot of the Police officers in the job today are not there because the are the right person for the job but instead to make up the numbers and as such they will probably misuse this new power they will be given.

James, Greenwich, UK

The taser is not issued to only specialist firearms officers at all.In Northumbria police the Taser trial was carried out by 24/7 response officers as well as firearms officers with so far no problems.The officers are expected to defend the public and more often themselves with at present a bataon?

Ken S, newcastle, tyne and wear

Tasers ARE frequently lethal weapons and there are scores of cases in North America where they led to the death of those tasered. Inquiries are going on even as I speak and they may well be banned in the future, despite the public protestations of innocence by the manufacturers. Jacqui Smith is dumb

peter carlyle-gordge, Winnipeg, Canada

Same concern was shown when officers were issued with CS Spray (classed as a firearm by the way) After a while it became acceptable by the public, after a while this will follow suit I'm sure.

Chris Francis, Malvern, Worcestershire

The Met Police Authority are no friends of the Frontline police officers and in fact couldn't care less. Wait a minute - they are all lazy politicians there is the reason.

Alastair Adams, Worcester Park, Surrey

We're already worried about the general attitudes and behaviour of the police. Giving them all tasers would simply be more of the same.

Tom , London, UK

I think Jakie Smith should show the public how safe these weapons are, i'd pay to see it!!!! Tasers another step on the road to police state. Oh good job the trigger happy Met are not getting these guns, look what happened to Charles DeMenses!

Micjhae, London,

I think the taser is a good compromise between having police with live bullets. In London today police are under threat from armed individuals and should have the means to combat this in a non-lethal way.

Alex, London, UK

How many more times will Jacqui Smith get things wrong before she does the honourable thing and resign?

MaxC, London,