ESSEX Police officers are drawing their Tasers nearly three times a week but firing them on fewer than one in five occasions.

The force’s use of Tasers is higher than other services in the East of England, according to the latest Home Office figures released last week.

Officers in Essex drew their weapons 152 times between January 1 and December 31 last year, more than twice as often as colleagues in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire.

Police in Norfolk and Suffolk both drew their Tasers 146 and 137 times respectively during the same period.

However, Essex Police only fired the devices on 18 per cent of occasions.

The sight of the red laser dot on their bodies was enough to make people comply 58 per cent of the time, while simply drawing or aiming accounted for another 24 per cent of incidents.

The force fired the devices 28 times.

Nationally, 10,329 incidents were recorded, with the Met Police using their Tasers the most - 1,954 times.

Across the UK, the figure rose two per cent year-on-year, but the total number of discharges fell by 3 per cent.

About 70 officers in Essex are trained to use the non-lethal weapon.

An Essex Police spokesman said the force trained officers and monitored Taser use to a high level, as recognised by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

He said: “The small increase in police use of Tasers over the last year when compared to a national increase in violent crime demonstrates that, in a safe county, Essex Police continues to use force proportionately and responsibly.

“Taser is just one piece of equipment that specially-trained officers can use to deal with potentially violent situations, while at the same time minimising harm to members of the public, police officers and offenders.

“Taser allows the restraint of violent individuals safely and efficiently and is often less harmful to offenders than striking them with a baton or using CS spray.”

The electric shock weapons have come under fresh scrutiny after former Ipswich Town and Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson died after being Tasered by West Mercia police in Telford, Shropshire, on Monday, August 15.

His death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission.