Taser stun guns are used by police forces in Britain

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was responding to a Policing Board request for views on the weapon.

Chief commissioner Monica McWilliams said not enough thought had been given to the impact of Tasers on children or those with mental health problems.

The board is to make a decision on the introduction of the Taser on Tuesday.

It had been proposed that Tasers be made available on a limited, pilot basis as a "less lethal alternative to the use of firearms in one-to-one situations".

The short consultation period has not allowed for sufficient involvement of this commission or other organisations to assess this crucial decision Professor Monica McWilliams Human Rights Commission

Professor McWilliams criticised the speed with which it had been planned to introduce the Taser to Northern Ireland.

She said it "was clear from the information provided by the Policing Board" that a case had not been made, in a limited way or otherwise, for the introduction of Tasers.

"The short consultation period has not allowed for sufficient involvement of this commission or other organisations to assess this crucial decision," she said.

"We strongly urge the Policing Board to take more time to consider whether or not to introduce Tasers, to provide more detailed information as part of a consultation process, and ensure that it hears a wide range of views before taking a final decision."

'Lives saved'

Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty International said the Policing Board would be badly advised to give them the go ahead.

"We have to really ask some tough questions before we let those weapons on the streets of Northern Ireland. We think we have enough weapons here already without adding more to the arsenal," he said.

He said the organisation welcomed more "tools" for the police but that those needed to be safe and tested.

"The track record we can point to for Tasers is one of death and injury," he added.

However, Steven Ward, vice president of American-based company Taser International said they were non-lethal devices.

"It delivers a small amount of electricity that makes a person's muscles contract," he said.

"Typically what they do is they fall over so that a police officer can go up to them and get them into handcuffs without having any further cause for violence or escalation of force.

"There is overwhelming evidence that points to the fact that Tasers save lives, they reduce injuries to police and they reduce injuries to the people police are arresting."