DRUNKS and those threatening suicide have been among those Tasered by Wiltshire Police.

Official figures show officers from the county’s force used the Tasers on 164 occasions between April 2017 and March 2018. The weapons, which use an electrical pulse to temporarily stun a suspect, were fired 26 times.

Supt Phil Staynings defended the force: “When used correctly, a Taser is an effective way of controlling a dangerous or threatening offender.

“Officers who carry a Taser undertake rigorous training in line with national standards and best practice. This includes effective decision making for its use based on circumstances faced in each individual case."

“We continually monitor and review incidents involving Taser in Wiltshire to ensure the use is appropriate and proportionate.”

Last year, the force came in for criticism from lawyer Mark Glendenning, as he defended client Michael Sheenan on charges of assaulting a police officer, being drunk and disorderly and failing to surrender to the court.

Old Town man Sheehan, then 23, had been standing in the middle of Ocotal Way, shouting abuse and swinging punches at the police officer called to help him. As Sheehan became more violent, the constable fired his Taser at the man, who fell to the floor and was arrested. Mr Glendenning accused the officer of heavy-handed tactics, saying his client had been swinging his arms in a bid to clear space around him.

A month later, police fired a Taser at a suicidal dad Gary Gunning, then 34, who threatened to stab 999 workers and cut the gas pipes to his Penhill Drive home. Gunning apologised for his actions and accepted his behaviour had “caused a great deal of inconvenience”.

In September, a jury ruled that failings by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust contributed to the death of a Warminster man two years earlier. Knife-wielding Terrence Bennett, 44, who suffered from schizoid-affective disorder, slashed his throat and wrists and had to be Tasered by officers so they could get close enough to treat his wounds.

Nationally, police forces came in for criticism over Christmas as figures released to Sky News showed Tasers had been used on suspects aged from 13 to 77 and against at least 37 dogs. Campaigners urged officers to stop using the Taser guns against children, warning of the psychological damage it can have.

The National Police Chief’s Council said decisions to use force were never taken likely, with the age of the suspect taken into account. “There are some cases where individuals pose a significant threat to themselves or others and the use of force will be lawful proportionate and necessary,” NPCC restraint lead Dept Asst Commissioner Matt Twist, told Sky News.

Supt Phil Staynings of Wiltshire Police added: “Protecting the public is paramount to Wiltshire Police, and we would like to reiterate the fact that Taser carrying officers attending an incident may draw their Taser, it may even be aimed, or the red-dot activated, but it will only be fired when absolutely necessary, to control a dangerous offender. However, it is clear that its mere presence continues to act as an effective deterrent.”