SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - RCMP in the NWT will not be left with only three Tasers, or conductive energy weapons, for the entire territory after a nationwide recall of the model M26 Taser was issued.

Last week RCMP in the national press office in Ottawa said the NWT had only three of the newer Taser model X26s, which are not being removed from service. According to RCMP Sgt. Wayne Norris, police in the territory have 23 of the new X26 models.

"Last year G Division purchased and replaced 20 of the M26 with the newer X26 models," he said. "We've also ordered another 20 X26s."

He added they were waiting for that order to arrive.

He said the division has ordered the 19 M26 Tasers currently in operation be returned for disposal.

RCMP in Ottawa had said there were 39 M26 model Tasers in use in the NWT. Norris said the head office had the wrong number of the different models of Tasers in use in the NWT because they were looking at inventory "that probably just wasn't up to date."

The M26 Tasers will be removed from active service across Canada so that each weapon can be tested.

The recall is a result of testing in British Columbia of 128 weapons used by B.C. police, corrections staff and sheriffs. The M26s did not operate properly 80 per cent of the time and did not produce enough expected electrical output 90 per cent of the time.