Kent's Chief Constable has announced he will arm around 100 more police officers with tasers following concerns over the safety of frontline staff.

Alan Pughsley declared his plans would be a way to make officers feel safer without arming them with lethal weapons.

At the performance and delivery board this morning, Chief Constable said: "Tasers are a more comfortable option than firearms for me, it is a less lethal option.

"We are going to increase our tasers by around 100 and the rationale is they're exactly the same as a firearm due to the threat of assault to police officers.

"British Police are the envy of all and the reason is we routinely don't arm our officers.

"We routinely work with the public and we are part of the public."

Ch Con Pughsley added equipping frontline staff with guns would not only damage the relationship to the public but could also cause the force more harm than good.

He said: "There are many examples where police officers have been seriously hurt when a member of the public has got their weapon.

"I will do anything that I can to help protect my officers, but that does not mean they have to be armed."

Kent police and crime commissioner Matthew Scott also opposes giving firearms to more police officers.

He said: "I am pleased the Chief Constable and I hold the same position about arming officers with firearms.

"Giving police officers guns fundamentally changes the relationship between the public and the police.

"The public are the police and the police are the public."