HAMPSHIRE police more than doubled their use of Tasers in a year, official statistics reveal.

Last year, Hampshire Police drew, aimed or fired the stun gun 223 times, but it was only discharged on 25 occasions, according to figures released by the Home Office under the Freedom of Information Act.

Incidents included one involving a nine-year-old boy and another with a 70-year-old woman, when it was actually fired.

Hampshire Police said the device had been drawn in the incident involving the boy only to try to calm down the situation, which allegedly involved a knife being used, and no force was needed.

It refused to give further details about either incident.

In 2013 a Taser was drawn, aimed or fired by police on 110 occasions, but only fired 18 times.

Use of Taser has been rolled out across the force in the past two years, having been previously only used by firearms officers and a specially trained force support unit – around 100 people. There are currently 264 Taser-trained and authorised officers.

A spokeswoman said experience had shown it could be an effective option to calm a situation safely with less risk of serious injury.

“Use of Taser is never taken lightly and all deployments are carefully reviewed,” she added.

Hampshire Police Federation chairman John Apter said he supported their use and would like to see even more as it was a less lethal option.

He said he believed 2015 would see a reduction in Taser use as those threatened with it had become more aware of the consequences.

“It’s designed to stop extreme levels of violence being offered towards police officers and members of the public,” he said.

“I have met a number of police officers who have been saved from very significant harm because they had Taser.”