POLICE bosses were today urged to arm all Lancashire officers with stun guns after they claimed they faced increasing violence and danger.

If approved, the move would see Lancashire Constabulary become the first force in the country to extend the use of Taser guns from armed response teams.

The Lancashire Police Federation, which represents ranks and file officers, made the request after carrying out a survey of the county's 3,602 officers.

Of the 1,282 who responded, just under half said they had felt their life was in danger while working during the past two years.

Forty two per cent believed all front line officers should be routinely armed with the stun guns and 40 per cent said they had been injured following an assault during the same period.

As a result, more than 80per cent of officers called for the use of Taser stun guns to be extended.

Force bosses today promised to discuss the call with officers.

Home Office guidelines recommend that Tasers are only given to armed response officers.

The 50,000 volt guns, which have been criticised by civil liberties groups, were introduced to Lancashire armed response officers 16 months ago and have been used a handful of times.

Tasers can incapacitate someone for five seconds and have a range of 21ft.

Of the 1,282 cops who responded to the survey, 42 per cent believed all front line officers should be routinely armed with the stun guns.

And a further 44 per cent said that, if not routinely handed out, Tasers should be given to a lot more officers than they are now.

Just 14 per cent of officers did not want the use of stun guns extending.

Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said: "These figures only serve to highlight once again what a difficult, unpredictable and sometimes dangerous job the police service is.

"Police officers are facing violence or the threat of violence on an ever-increasing scale and yet are still dedicated to serving the public and upholding the law.

"Using these figures, we will now be urging the constabulary to explore the further extension of the issue and use of Taser. This will hopefully reduce the number of officers who are injured in the line of duty."

Supt Richard Bayly said: "As a result of this survey there will be further discussions between the Constabulary and the Federation."

From July to September last year, the most recent figures available, there were 114 attacks on police officers in Lancashire, an increase on the previous year.