Police given more Taser guns to help them tackle violent offenders and knife crime in Milton Keynes

Thames Valley force, which includes Milton Keynes, has been awarded £115,000 government funding to buy the guns.

They will also be given money to training of Taser instructors for frontline officers throughout the force.

Ben Everitt MP, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: “This will help equip specially trained police officers to make sure they keep themselves safe and the public safe as we tackle violent crime such as the rise in knife crime here in Milton Keynes.”

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, said: “We welcome the news that the Thames Valley will receive an additional £115,500 towards funding this important equipment. Tasers will be given to specially trained frontline staff to protect themselves and others in potentially dangerous situations."

He added: “It is vital that our officers are appropriately equipped to deal with a variety of situations in their role and this funding will help us to provide them with the best equipment to do that.

“We’re delighted to be able to equip more staff appropriately in the fight against violent crime."

Taser is a brand of conducted electrical weapon that fires two small barbed darts intended to puncture the skin and remain attached to the target.

The darts deliver an electric current designed to disrupt the target's voluntary control of muscles, causing "neuromuscular incapacitation.”

The effects range from localised pain to strong involuntary long muscle contractions, based on the mode of use.