Dutch police are to begin experimenting with tasers in Rotterdam, Zwolle and Amersfoort from next week.

In total, 300 police officers will be given a two-day course in the use of the hand-held electric shock equipment.

In Zwolle and Amersfoort tasers will be used by ordinary beat officers, including on night patrols. In Rotterdam, dog handlers will be trained in their use. Later this year, the weapons will also be used by specialist arrest teams.

Dutch police officers are currently equipped with a hand gun, a truncheon and pepper spray. Senior police officers believe that the taser is an ‘excellent resource’ to fill the gap between guns and the spray.

Doubts

However, the use of the weapon is controversial and police unions have expressed doubts about the taser in the past.

Amnesty International has also warned about the risks attached to tasers and called for more research. It says hundreds of people in the US have been killed by the devices.

Police spokesman Willem Woelders, acting head of the Midden Nederland force, said use of the taser will allow the police to be more precise when forced to use violence.

‘We only use force when it is unavoidable,’ he said. ‘And when we do, we try to have the maximum effect with the minimum injury. The taser can help in this.’