PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde has vowed to press on with a pilot stun gun scheme, despite being urged to hold off by the Policing Board.
At a meeting in Bangor, Co Down last night, board representatives passed a majority decision that no electronic tasers should be deployed until an equality impact assessment is completed.
Sinn Féin representatives on the board have refused to endorse Northern Ireland's latest policing plan because of their complete opposition to the 50,000-volt weapons.
But Mr Orde insisted he is committed to bringing in 12 tasers in an experiment involving specially trained officers.
He said the guns are already used in forces across Britain, and that they had done an incredible amount of consultation about it and will continue to consult with the relevant people.
'I have a responsibility to protect the community and my officers and make available to them the best equipment to do a very difficult and on occasions very dangerous job', he said.
He is expected to begin the pilot scheme early in the New Year once the training and procurement processes have been completed.
