Watchdog defends use of taser on knife suspect

THE police watchdog has defended the use of a taser which left a Llandudno man, suspected of carrying a knife, critically injured and fighting for his life.

An investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has found the use of the weapon on the 24-year-old man to be “reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances”.

At 10.15pm on July 27 last year officers were called to a domestic disturbance at Bryniau Court in Llandudno.

After gaining entry to the address, officers confronted the 24-year-old man, who they had been told was in possession of a large knife, and fired a taser at him. The man fell backwards and suffered a serious head injury which caused him to lose consciousness and fall into a critical condition.

North Wales Police referred themselves to the IPCC over the incident. The man was treated in hospital and has since recovered.

As part of the investigation, which has taken more than a year, the IPCC considered whether the use of force by the officers was reasonable.

Investigators obtained accounts from members of the public, police and paramedics and examined body-worn video footage of the incident.

Operations Manager Melanie Palmer said: “The IPCC investigator found no indication that the officers involved in this incident may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.

“In this case, the officers were confronted in a confined space by an individual who had been seen in the street with a knife.

“The evidence indicates the officer who tasered the man used no more force than he honestly, reasonably and instinctively considered necessary for the purpose of protecting himself and his colleague.”