by Alex Shaw

The number of times police in Kent fired Tasers has doubled, according to the latest figures.

The device, which delivers a high-voltage electric shock, was discharged 71 times in 2018-19, 12% of the 588 times the weapons were drawn.

KMTV speak to police about the increase

This is up from 35 times, or 7% of the time, between 2017-2018, according to Home Office figures.

They reveal officers drew their Tasers 588 times in 2018-19 - up from 475 the year before - a rise of 24%.

In 151 cases officers also aimed and partially activated the Taser so a red target dot appeared on a person.

Supt Mick Gardner, of Kent Police, said: "Taser is just one of a number of tactics available to officers and it provides officers with an excellent way of calming potentially dangerous and difficult situations, thereby helping them in their task of preventing crime and keeping the public safe.

"It is more effective, less intrusive and safer than some available alternatives such as using batons.

KMTV asks if all frontline officers should get tasers

"One of its key benefits is that it contributes to officers being able to resolve incidents without injury.

"In March 2019, chief constable of Kent Police Alan Pughsley announced all frontline officers including special constables would have the opportunity to be trained, accredited and equipped with taser.

"The training is rigorous and in addition to the use of force training and resolution of conflict training that all officers receive.

"Training began at the end of September 2019 and the force expects this rollout to be completed by September 2020.

"Across the country we have seen an increase in violent offences against victims as well as police officers and the extended rollout of taser to Kent officers is to meet this sort of aggression and violence head on."

"Taser is just one of a number of tactics available to officers and it provides officers with an excellent way of calming potentially dangerous and difficult situations, thereby helping them in their task of preventing crime and keeping the public safe..." - Supt Mick Gardner

The Home Office figures also show police officers in Kent used force against suspects 12,745 times in 2018-19.

This includes forcibly handcuffing someone, striking a suspect with a baton, or using pepper spray.

The Kent figures come as the use of Tasers, also known as conductive energy devices, reached record levels across England and Wales.

In total, forces discharged the weapons on 2,700 occasions in 2018-19, the highest annual number recorded.

During this time, the devices were unholstered in 23,500 incidents – in most cases aimed at suspects without being discharged – up 39% from the previous year.

The Home Office says the rise may reflect police forces dealing with "more incidents with the potential for conflict", or growing numbers of "CED-trained officers and CEDs available".

Police Federation vice-chair Ché Donald said: "With the Government and an increased number of chief constables backing a wider roll-out of Taser, it is unsurprising there were more incidents where this tactical option was selected.

"But the fact that the figure for instances where the taser was drawn but not discharged remains so constant reaffirms how effective it can be in de-escalating situations.

"The red dot alone continues to be enough to diffuse the vast majority of incidents without the need to pull the trigger."

Across England and Wales, there were 428,000 recorded incidents in which a police officer used force.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent