 The taser gun delivers a 50,000 volt charge |
Police in Greater Manchester have fired an electric stun gun at a suspect for the first time since they began a year-long trial of the weapon. The force, which confirmed last week it would be adopting the weapons permanently, said officers shot at an armed man with the gun on Tuesday.
The man, 28, held a 30-year-old hostage at a house in Audenshaw and later released her.
Officers used the gun on the man as he came to the door with a handgun.
The taser gun, which delivers a five-second 50,000 volt charge, temporarily incapacitated him before officers arrested the man.
Safety concerns
The victim was taken to Tameside General Hospital but refused treatment.
Last week the force announced it was satisfied with the results of a year-long trial of the weapon.
A police spokeswoman said the guns had been aimed at suspects before but never fired.
The gun uses nitrogen cartridges to fire two barbs which trail copper cable back to the weapon.
Groups such as Amnesty International have expressed concern about the weapon's safety but police say it is a safer way for their trained armed officers to deal with people using firearms.
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