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West Midlands Police fire tasers at 122 people in six months

West Midland Police fired a taser at 122 people during the first six months of this year, according to new figures.

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Six hundred officers in the force are trained to carry the weapon that was used in 439 incidents in the region over the same period.

The weapon just needed to be drawn on 56 occasions and simply aimed 31 times before the incidents were resolved.

The laser activated red dot had to be directed onto 228 people before they calmed down, the figures disclose.

During the whole of 2013 taser was used against 176 people although there were a total of 221 firings since in some cases more than one taser was fired at an individual.

Just over half of those involved were white while 95 per cent were men. In the first six months of this year 67 per cent were white and 88 per cent male. Overall figures are in line with forces of similar size such as Greater Manchester Police, concludes a report on the issue.

There were four instances between January last year and this June in which taser was successfully deployed against dogs.

In addition West Midland Police were involved in a total of 84 firearm operations this year up to November 19 during which 61 people were detained. Ten of these suspect were held during 18 spontaneous operations while the rest were pre-planned.

Earlier this year police officers in Staffordshire have been told to wear body cameras when they brandish taser stun guns following a probe into high usage of the weapons by the force.

An independent investigation was launched as a result and it found Staffordshire officers used taser more frequently than other forces proportionately although the number actually fired was one of the lowest in England and Wales.

Stun guns were fired 71 times in total, the report found.

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