STUN guns which deliver a 50,000 volt electrical charge are soon to be in use by police on Kent’s streets.

Kent Police this week announced that it is introducing the X26 Taser, which is shaped and used like a pistol or a handgun, and delivers an instant charge with or without the use of special darts. It is designed to incapacitate assailants for as long as the charge is applied, rather than cause serious injury.

Tasers will be available to officers from October 10 and can only be used when police are answering a call where firearms have been reported.

Tasers will not be used for general public order or violent incidents where firearms have not been reported to the police.

Ch Insp Mark Janaway, head of weapons training at Kent Police College, said: "Tasers are not an alternative to conventional firearms, but they add to the options available to us in very dangerous situations.

"Because they allow us to temporarily incapacitate in order to overpower and arrest, they will help us to resolve the most difficult incidents quicker and with less chance of injury to either party."

Kent Police is the 20th force in the country to introduce the weapons.