Police justified in using Tasers in three incidents, watchdog finds

Three police officers were justified in using Tasers in three separate incidents last June and July, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) has found.

The cases happened shortly after 500 specially-trained officers (STOs) were trained by Police Scotland to use the devices.

The first incident on June 18 involved a 21-year-old man at a house in Jedburgh in the Borders who was reported as having a loaded crossbow and threatening to harm himself.

When he was arrested, he was found to have a knife, although the crossbow was recovered in his bedroom.

The second incident on June 25 involved a 33-year-old man in Aberdeen who was pressing a knife against his own throat.

On July 1 in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, a 35-year-old man was repeatedly swinging a glass bottle at police officers.

Any incident where a Taser is discharged is referred to the Pirc as standard.

In each of the three cases, the Pirc reports released on Monday said the commissioner found: “In the circumstances, the use of Taser to limit that danger and effect his arrest was necessary, proportionate and justified.”

A spokeswoman for the commissioner said: “The findings in these cases illustrate that the use of Taser devices by specially-trained officers of Police Scotland was appropriate in providing protection to the public, the police officers and indeed a number of those Tasered.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “We welcome the findings of these reports.

“Our number one priority is the protection of the public and it is really positive that the Pirc has recognised that in all of these incredibly challenging incidents our officers acted professionally.”

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