A CAMPAIGN group has criticised a Government decision to arm police officers with Taser guns.

Amnesty International's Hillingdon Group is concerned about the harm the guns, which administer electric shocks, could do to innocent people.

Tony McNulty MP, the minister for state security, counter terrorism, crime and policing, said specially-trained units from the Metropolitan Police, who are not firearms officers, are carring a Taser as part of a 12-month trial which started on Saturday, September 1.

Janet Tyas, 35, of Amnesty International's Hillingdon Group, said: "They are used a lot in the USA and we are concerned that if they get used so widely in the UK, then a lot of people could get hurt.

"Although the officers that will use them are trained, they are not specialists so it could be dangerous."

She said that although Tasers are not firearms, the electric shock delivered to the victim would do them some harm.

Mr McNulty outlined that the weapon can be used where officers are facing severe violence or threats of violence where they would need to use force to protect the public, themselves or other people involved.