Fears over excessive police use of stun guns have been raised after the death of a suspected burglar in Staffordshire on whom officers had used a Taser electronic weapon.

The man died in the early hours of Monday in Newcastle-under-Lyme after police were called to a property shortly after 1am in response to reports of a break-in.

After police used a Taser electronic weapon, the man was put in a police car but became unresponsive and died following medical attention, Staffordshire police said in a statement.

In July, data published by the Independent Police Complaints Commission revealed that Staffordshire police, which covers the county and Stoke-on-Trent, used Taser electronic weapons more than any other force, with shots being fired 33 times per 100 officers.

The fatality also represents the second death following police use of a Taser electronic weapon in two months. Matthew Williams died after he was shot with a Taser electronic weapon following an attack on a young woman in a bedroom at a hostel for homeless people in the Welsh valleys.

Sophie Khan, a solicitor who has previously criticised police use of Taser electronic weapons, called on Theresa May to consider a temporary ban. “There are safety issues over Tasers. The latest death shows that Tasers can cause fatalities and they are a lethal weapon.

“Taser use has been criticised in the past as Tasers have been used on the vulnerable and minors. This recent death raises further questions as to why no steps have been taken by the police forces to address the real threat to life due to Taser use.

“This Taser death comes at a time when the actions of police officers in the UK and US have been placed under a spotlight. It is now time for the home secretary to consider whether a temporary ban on Tasers should be introduced.”

Home Office figures released in October show that police use of Taser electronic weapons has increased sharply, by 13% in 12 months. The stun guns were used more than 5,100 times in England and Wales in the first six months of 2014.

The weapons have been linked to at least 10 deaths in England and Wales over the past decade.

Earlier this month, a Manchester coroner ruled that five police officers who wanted to remain anonymous would be named at the inquest into a man shot with a Taser electronic weapon.

Factory worker Jordan Lee Begley, 23, died two hours after a Greater Manchester police officer shot him with a stun gun at his home in Gorton on 10 July last year. Police had been called to his home following an argument.

Devon and Cornwall police were criticised for using Taser electronic weapons on two boys aged 14 and 15 after reports of an alleged assault on a teacher at Chelfham senior school.

After the most recent incident in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a neighbour described seeing a drunk-looking man walk out of the block of flats where the suspected burglary had taken place.

The man was escorted by at least three officers into a custody van, and said “help me”, said the neighbour, who did not want to be named.

“I looked out and there were about seven cop cars, and this guy came out – he was still alive then, he was still walking,” he said. “There were about nine of them and they were carrying him, one under each arm and another in front to hold him up. He was saying ‘help me’. He looked drunk.”

Taser electronic weapons were introduced to UK police forces in 2004 to give officers an alternative to using firearms or heavy weapons such as batons.

Around 12% of UK police officers carry a Taser electronic weapon and, according to government guidelines, all officers must be trained before being allowed to use one.

Police were ordered to apologise in person last year to an elderly blind man who was shot with a Taser electronic weapon after they mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire police said: “A detailed investigation is under way and the scene will remain cordoned off while the investigation continues. Local officers will be in the community throughout the day, talking to residents.”