TASERS will be handed out to more police officers in Essex.

New figures revealed one in five officers were assaulted last year.

Mark Smith, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, said his organisation has asked for more officers to be armed with the stun guns.

He said: “There is now an understanding more officers will receive Tasers, although the number has not yet been agreed.

“This will protect officers and the public.”

Mr Smith believes officers are at greater risk since they were sent out on their own in patrol cars without immediate back-up.

He said: “You are on your own and more people seem willing to fight, rather than respect the police.”

A total 23,000 officers were assaulted in the UK last year.

There were 386 non-injury assaults on police officers in Essex. There were an estimated 193 incidents where officers were injured.

Mr Smith hopes the Tasers will be available for officers by the end of the summer.

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed the force would be “uplifting its Taser capacity” later in the year, but denied this was directly connected to the number of assaults on officers.

He added: “Our officers are trained to protect communities and keep vulnerable people safe by walking towards danger and therefore risking serious injury on a regular basis.

“Whether an assault causes injury or not, being attacked can have lasting psychological effects.

“Provisions are in place to help officers deal with incidents such as these.

“Trauma risk management is a welfare-led process designed to support officers.”