Look out for lost police taser cartridge

Take care if you spot what looks like a simple printer cartridge lying on the ground.

Cheshire Police warn that it could be a taser cartridge that has been lost by a police officer somewhere in Cheshire.

Although the cartridge is not harmful, police would like the public to alert them if they see it.

It was lost last Wednesday by an officer who travelled the length and breadth of the county.

At some point the cartridge, which was attached to his equipment vest, became detached and has yet to be found

Inspector Dave Price said: "The cartridge is safe to handle, and there is no risk providing it is not tampered with in any way. If found it should be handed into the nearest police station. This is a very rare event and a full internal review is under way."

If you spot anything that looks like the missing cartridge you are asked to dial 101 to report the find.

Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003, when a 12-month trial saw specialist firearms officers in five police forces carrying them.

The officers were only allowed to use them in circumstances where they were authorised to draw weapons. In 2008 Tasers were rolled out across England and Wales, and were no longer limited to specialist firearms officers.

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