Probe clears officer who used spray on train station flasher
Woman fired liquid irritant when man became‘threatening’
A female British Transport Police officer has been backed after downing a violent sex pest with a chemical spray.
An official report said the woman feared for her safety and fired the liquid irritant at the man, who became ill and vomited.
The incident, which took place outside Paisley Gilmour Street train station, has only now been revealed.
The 20-year-old man had been chased from the platforms after indecently exposing himself.
The flasher had already grabbed the same female officer by the hair and punched her before managing to escape into County Square.
But he “adopted a threatening stance” when she caught up with him and she discharged the powerful Captor Incapacitant spray.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) has supported her actions after Police Scotland referred the incident to them.
The incident was sparked at 9pm on February 24 last year after Gilmour Street train station staff brought in transport police after reports the man had flashed his privates.
Two British Transport Police officers found him drunk in the station with a group of pals.
He became aggressive and struggled and assaulted both officers before making a run for it.
When he was caught he was sprayed with the substance, similar to pepper spray and which causes a burning sensation and can impact breathing.
The deviant became breathless before being sick and told officers he had asthma.
One of the officers handed him her personal inhaler and paramedics later deemed him fit.
The incident was reported to the PIRC the day afterwards and the authority launched a probe.
They also examined training records which confirmed that both officers were skilled and authorised to use Captor and personal safety equipment at the time of the incident.
PIRC now says no action will be taken against the officer.
The ruling said: “Given the demeanour and actions of the man including the resistance shown to the police officers, the discharge of the Captor Incapacitant spray was proportionate, necessary and justified to ensure the police officer’s safety.
“To assist and prevent further deterioration of the man’s breathing, a BTP officer administered her personal
Salbutamol inhaler to the man.
“This had the effect of alleviating his breathlessness.”
Captor Incapacitant spray uses pelargonic acid in an ethanol solvent, propelled by nitrogen.
The discharge of the Captor Incapacitant spray was proportionate, necessary and justified