THE region's biggest police force has added plastic bullet-firing weapons to its armoury.

Northumbria Police's firearms officers have been trained to use baton guns, which are considered less likely to be lethal than standard guns.

The weapons will be deployed alongside conventional firearms at incidents where police suspect guns may be used.

Baton guns are aimed at a suspect's torso and deliver a strike said to be similar to that of a conventional baton but over greater distances. Although they can kill or badly injure, the risk is less than that of ordinary firearms.

The force says the weapons will not be used to stop disturbances and riots.

Assistant Chief Constable John Scott said: "Our first priority is public safety, which is why we are making baton guns available to our firearms officers.

"The prime aim of firearms officers is to bring an incident to a safe conclusion without any injury or loss of life and the simple fact is that less-lethal weapons can prevent lives being lost.

"With the introduction of baton guns we are closing the gap that existed between using CS spray or a baton and conventional firearms.

"There is now the option to use the baton as part of a range of equipment to diffuse a difficult situation.

"However, like any less-lethal weapon it is not risk free and is only less likely to lead to serious injury or death.

"We will also still need to resort to conventional firearms in certain circumstances.''

Police in neighbouring County Durham have had baton guns for more than a year.

Last year, the Police Complaints Authority called for the weapons to be introduced nationwide.

The weapons are a modified version of those used in Ulster since the 1970s.