The recent Home Office figures revealed that Tasers have been used more frequently over the last 12 months. While this report gives us cause for concern, essentially it is inevitable.

Since September last year, more officers have had these potentially lethal electro shock weapons at their disposal. The Home Office piloted a 12-month trial across 10 police authorities, enabling some non-specialist firearms officers to use Tasers, and allowing the weapon to be used in what was nebulously described as a “wider set of circumstances”.

It’s exactly this lack of clarity and the easing of restrictions that is causing Amnesty International real concern about the usage of these weapons.

Let me be clear: Amnesty International is not opposed to the use of Tasers by the UK police force. In fact, we recognise that there are circumstances when Tasers should be deployed, in response to life-threatening situations.

But the level of training should be rigorous and to the highest standards before they are widely deployed.

Tasers are potentially lethal and highly dangerous weapons. People have died after being shocked by a Taser.

Many may recall the video footage posted on YouTube of a Polish man who died after being stunned with a Taser by Canadian police in Vancouver airport.

According to Amnesty’s latest figures, more than 300 people have died after being shocked by a Taser in the US and Canada since 2001.

Just last year, the UN committee against torture described the impact of the Taser weapon as “provoking extreme pain, constituted a form of torture and that in certain cases it could also cause death.”

Clearly the UK government has to ensure that the most stringent safeguards are in place when this weapon is being used.

The Home Office minister Tony McNulty said yesterday that police should be equipped with the necessary tools required to carry out their duties. I completely agree with that. I also appreciate that police officers have a duty to protect themselves and the community at large from violent situations across Britain.

But I refute the claim that arming officers with Tasers without the necessary safeguards and appropriate training is the answer.

Any officer carrying a Taser should be trained to the same high standard as they are for using a firearm. This means that their training should be intensive, ongoing and rigorous to ensure that these dangerous weapons are only used in the appropriate situations. And even in those circumstances, roll out of Tasers should be highly restricted. We do not want to have the same situation as in the US where police officers are routinely armed with Tasers.

Amnesty has always feared that the wider deployment of Tasers could be the start of a slippery slope towards arming all UK police officers.

With the latest Home Office figures suggesting a clear increase, it is highly possible that our fears may yet be realised.