The company which supplied Tasers used by police during a stand-off with fugitive Raoul Moat has had its licence revoked by the Home Secretary.
It comes after it had emerged that the gun fired at Moat by officers - the X12 Taser - was not licensed for distribution under the Firearms Act.
It had been claimed the use of the experimental Taser was at the discretion of individual forces.
But now Theresa May has said Pro-Tect Systems "breached its licence" by supplying weapons "direct to police that were only available for supply to the Home Office Science and Development branch".
The company also broke rules governing the safe transport of the Tasers, according Ms May.
In a letter to the Home Affairs Committee, Home Office minister James Brokenshire said Pro-Tect Systems has been issued short-term dispensation to distribute its remaining stock of the guns.
Sky News political correspondent Niall Paterson said: "This is potentially very, very serious indeed.
"We have now heard that the licence was not in place. Therefore, the distribution of these weapons was in breach of the Firearms Act.
"This gives rise to a number of questions, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of Raoul Moat's death."
Sources close to the Home Office were keen to not to attach any blame to the officers concerned.
Police had been practising with the weapon earlier on the day of the stand-off in July.
Standard Taser guns have a range of just a few feet, but the one in question is capable of far greater distances.
There is as yet no suggestion that the Taser played any part
in Raoul Moat's death.
But an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigaton is still ongoing.
The shots fired by police and Moat occured within a few seconds and as yet it is unclear what caused Moat's death.
My reply to is I am not in any way a Moat supporter, but I believe that any unlicensed firearm on the street is illegal. The officers could not have been trained in the safe use of the weapon & the armourer should not have released it into his custody. Now the anti - Gun lobby will crawl out of the wood work. Believe me I don't agree with them either. There you are I am speechless you tell me are the Police going to get done?
It comes after it had emerged that the gun fired at Moat by officers - the X12 Taser - was not licensed for distribution under the Firearms Act.
It had been claimed the use of the experimental Taser was at the discretion of individual forces.
But now Theresa May has said Pro-Tect Systems "breached its licence" by supplying weapons "direct to police that were only available for supply to the Home Office Science and Development branch".
The company also broke rules governing the safe transport of the Tasers, according Ms May.
In a letter to the Home Affairs Committee, Home Office minister James Brokenshire said Pro-Tect Systems has been issued short-term dispensation to distribute its remaining stock of the guns.
Sky News political correspondent Niall Paterson said: "This is potentially very, very serious indeed.
"We have now heard that the licence was not in place. Therefore, the distribution of these weapons was in breach of the Firearms Act.
"This gives rise to a number of questions, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of Raoul Moat's death."
Sources close to the Home Office were keen to not to attach any blame to the officers concerned.
Police had been practising with the weapon earlier on the day of the stand-off in July.
Standard Taser guns have a range of just a few feet, but the one in question is capable of far greater distances.
There is as yet no suggestion that the Taser played any part
in Raoul Moat's death.
But an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigaton is still ongoing.
The shots fired by police and Moat occured within a few seconds and as yet it is unclear what caused Moat's death.
My reply to is I am not in any way a Moat supporter, but I believe that any unlicensed firearm on the street is illegal. The officers could not have been trained in the safe use of the weapon & the armourer should not have released it into his custody. Now the anti - Gun lobby will crawl out of the wood work. Believe me I don't agree with them either. There you are I am speechless you tell me are the Police going to get done?
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