Watchdog backs the police use of Taser

A POLICE officer firing a Taser at a man during a flat siege was “justified”, a police watchdog has found.

The firearms officer discharged the device at the 32-year-old in a flat in Dundee after failed negotiations during a siege lasting four hours.

Armed police stormed the home and feared the man – who had earlier threatened to stab anyone who entered – was going to get a weapon.

One officer fired a Taser at his back leaving him “incapacitated”, enabling police to arrest him.

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) investigated the incident as is standard procedure for police use of a firearm.

The report details that officers were first called to reports of a disturbance at the flat at 9.50pm on July 6.

The man refused to allow the police into the flat and threatened to stab anyone who entered.

Police knew there were others in the flat and prevented anyone from going in or out while they began negotiations, unsuccessfully trying to persuade the man to leave.

When he stopped responding, officers became concerned and forced entry.

One officer believed the man was heading to the kitchen to get a weapon and to prevent this he shot a Taser at his back.

The report states: “When the armed officers forced entry to the flat, the man reacted in an aggressive and confrontational manner and refused to comply with the officer’s instructions.

“The use of the Taser in the circumstances was both necessary, proportionate and justified.”