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Man dies after being shot with Taser by police in south Wales Man dies after being shot with Taser by police in south Wales
(about 1 hour later)
A man has died after being shot with a Taser by police officers who had been called to deal with an incident in Llanelli, south Wales.A man has died after being shot with a Taser by police officers who had been called to deal with an incident in Llanelli, south Wales.
The police watchdog the IPCC has launched an inquiry into the man’s death, which happened on Tuesday evening.The police watchdog the IPCC has launched an inquiry into the man’s death, which happened on Tuesday evening.
An IPCC spokesman said: “Independent Police Complaints Commission investigators have been deployed to an incident in Llanelli in which a man has died following contact with police.An IPCC spokesman said: “Independent Police Complaints Commission investigators have been deployed to an incident in Llanelli in which a man has died following contact with police.
“Dyfed-Powys police officers were called out by a member of the public who was concerned about the behaviour and welfare of a man who appeared to be injured.“Dyfed-Powys police officers were called out by a member of the public who was concerned about the behaviour and welfare of a man who appeared to be injured.
“Officers attended and during engagement with the man, it is understood a Taser was discharged. The man became unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead. The IPCC has begun an independent investigation.”“Officers attended and during engagement with the man, it is understood a Taser was discharged. The man became unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead. The IPCC has begun an independent investigation.”
A spokeswoman for the force said: “A full investigation has commenced, and Dyfed-Powys police referred the matter to the IPCC, who will now conduct an independent investigation. We are fully co-operating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man.”A spokeswoman for the force said: “A full investigation has commenced, and Dyfed-Powys police referred the matter to the IPCC, who will now conduct an independent investigation. We are fully co-operating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man.”
More details soon . . . Two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance were called to the scene at 7.35pm on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Welsh ambulance service said.
The Labour assembly member for Llanelli, Lee Waters, tweeted:
Concerened by reports a man has died after being shot by police with Taser in #Llanelli Glad IPCC are investigating https://t.co/xnA3geaYxE
A report from the IPCC in 2014 revealed that Dyfed-Powys police – together with the City of London force – reported the lowest use of Tasers with two uses per 100 officers in 2013. Staffordshire had the highest level with 33 uses per 100 officers. “Uses” included instances when the device was drawn but not discharged.
The use of Tasers continues to be monitored carefully by the IPCC.
In the 2014 report (pdf) it acknowledged that Taser could be a valuable tool in helping police officers manage difficult and challenging situations.
But the report added: “With more officers now equipped with Tasers and with the number of complaints rising in line with the increased use, the IPCC recommends that local forces should guard against the possibility that it is being over-used.
“For example, the IPCC’s analysis of Home Office data shows considerable disparity in Taser use between forces, with some smaller forces having a proportionately much higher rate of Taser use in relation to their size. There is no obvious explanation for this, and the IPCC will further explore this with police forces.”
The report also raised concerns about the use of Tasers on people in police custody and on those who are particularly vulnerable, such as those with mental health concerns or young people. It also highlighted concerns when the device is used in drive-stun mode – applied directly to the body rather than fired from a distance.
It is not yet known how the Taser was used in the Llanelli incident.
Government figures published last year revealed police used Tasers 10,062 times in 2014, a decrease of 3% (318) compared with 2013. Non-discharges accounted for 8,081 uses.
There have been a few high-profile deaths of people following Taser use.
Last year an inquest jury found that a Taser fired by a police officer was the most likely cause of a fire that engulfed and killed a man in Plymouth. Andrew Pimlott, 32, had poured petrol over himself and was holding a lit match when he was hit in the back garden of his parents’ house.