Tasers were trialled for 12 months

Five forces in England and Wales conducted trials of the weapon using specialist firearms officers and said it was an effective deterrent.

Now the police want the Taser to be used more widely to tackle serious violent disorder such as hooliganism.

But the government has questioned the gun's use and said that trials must continue in their present form.

'No decision'

"We support a limited operational pilot of Taser to allow the police to explore, in greater detail, the potential benefits of this technology," a Home Office spokeswoman said.

"No decision has been made about the acceptability or desirability of Taser deployment in the long term."

The spokeswoman said the Home Office would continue to work alongside the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in piloting the gun.

"We believe that the current trial should continue in its present form and should not, at this stage, be extended to other situations where a firearms authority would not be given, or for use by officers other than trained firearms officers.

"We are discussing with ACPO the possibility of other forces joining the current trial."

The Taser temporarily disables offenders with an electric shock.

Less lethal

BBC Crime Correspondent Neil Bennett said: "The 12-month trial of the device showed that merely aiming the red dot laser sight at a suspect was usually enough to ensure compliance."

At present stun guns can only be used by authorised firearms specialists in situations where they would otherwise draw their guns.

But chief officers want to test it further by issuing the Taser to police who have to deal with serious violent disorder caused, for example, by excessive drinking or football hooliganism.

The gun, which fires two barbs delivering an electric shock, is classed as a "less lethal" option than conventional weapons.

Tasers have been used a number of times during the trial period but officers say they have not always worked.

The Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, said last month that there was further debate to be had over the disciplinary process surrounding officers using them.