Many police think all frontline officers should have Tasers

The weapons were not appropriate for "everyday circumstances", she told Police Review.

Only authorised firearms officers are currently allowed to use Tasers, which deliver a 50,000-volt electric shock.

The Police Federation said about 80% of its members were in favour of rolling out their use among frontline officers.

Officers face dangers on a daily basis that require more than a pair of handcuffs and a truncheon Alan Gordon

This was because officers often required more than just "handcuffs and a truncheon", it said.

Ms Blears said: "Taser is quite a dangerous weapon. It is a less lethal option other than firearms, but it is not an everyday weapon used in everyday circumstances.

"My feeling at the moment is that it is substantially different from handcuffs and a truncheon, and I would not want to see everyone on the streets having that kind of weapon."

She said the specialised firearms teams equipped with Tasers were "trained in split second judgements".

Professionals

But providing all officers with "an array of weapons" would not help believe close relationships between police and the public.

Her stance was criticised by Police Federation vice chairman Alan Gordon, who said he "took exception" to the idea that Tasers would not be safe in the hands of professionally trained officers.

He said: "Officers face dangers on a daily basis that require more than a pair of handcuffs and a truncheon.

"To that extent we have long argued that Tasers should be extended beyond firearms officers."

However, a Home Office spokeswoman said the policy of not generally arming police officers gave "a character to our policing that we should not readily give up".