Specially trained armed officers will carry the guns

These baton guns are considered a "less lethal" option than conventional firearms.

Derbyshire is the latest police force in Britain to issue the weapons to its officers after they were first introduced in 2001.

They are designed to disable a person rather than cause death and are more accurate than other rubber bullets.

Shot man

They will be carried by Derbyshire's armed response teams.

Despite their introduction the force says they are not intended to replace conventional weapons.

The move follows an incident in November 2001 when Steve Dickson from Codnor was killed by a single bullet fired by a police marksman.

An inquest jury ruled he had been lawfully killed.

Assistant Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "There is an opportunity with a baton gun that if we are confronted with a life threatening situation we have another choice other than a conventional weapon.

"All the officers have had special training because Baton guns are nothing like ordinary guns, they have been trained how to use them and which situation they are best used in.

"The point of the baton gun is to give us an option that might avoid the tragic deaths that have happened in the past.