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| Former soldier dies after being shot with Taser by police in south Wales | Former soldier dies after being shot with Taser by police in south Wales |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former soldier has died after being hit with a Taser by police officers who had been called to deal with an incident in Llanelli, south Wales. | A former soldier has died after being hit with a Taser by police officers who had been called to deal with an incident in Llanelli, south Wales. |
| The man has been identified locally as Spencer Beynon, who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. | The man has been identified locally as Spencer Beynon, who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Details are scant, but police watchdog the IPCC has launched an inquiry into the man’s death, which happened on Tuesday evening. | Details are scant, but 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.” |
| Witnesses said they saw Beynon stabbing himself and a dog with a knife. Halder Monteiro said: “I was in the house and I could hear lots of shouting and at first I just thought it was kids messing around. | |
| “I then went out to see what was going on and I could see a guy in the street who looked totally out of it. He didn’t seem himself – as if he wasn’t there. He just had this look in his eyes. You could tell he wasn’t acting rationally. | |
| “He then started hitting his head against a window several times and looked to be holding a dog in his arms. | |
| After police used the Taser he fell to the floor and the dog he was carrying was crawling on its back legs. It looked injured.” | |
| Others said they had seen Beynon stab himself and the dog with a kitchen knife. It is thought Beynon was in the area visiting a friend. | |
| A police spokeswoman 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 cooperating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man.” | |
| Tributes paid to Llanelli man who died following 'incident' involving Taser https://t.co/YIDXZnc1rl pic.twitter.com/A2eg9fNQfu | Tributes paid to Llanelli man who died following 'incident' involving Taser https://t.co/YIDXZnc1rl pic.twitter.com/A2eg9fNQfu |
| Beynon’s niece Georgia said: “My uncle was a truly amazing man. Absolutely everyone loved him and I know he is going to be missed by so many. | Beynon’s niece Georgia said: “My uncle was a truly amazing man. Absolutely everyone loved him and I know he is going to be missed by so many. |
| “No one will ever understand how much he has been through, but he is in a safe, happy place now. The whole family are distraught, but we will get through this.” | “No one will ever understand how much he has been through, but he is in a safe, happy place now. The whole family are distraught, but we will get through this.” |
| Tom Nasmyth-Shaw, a long-time friend of Beynon, said he was devastated. He said: “We have known Spencer for years and he has been an amazing friend to us, he was a brilliant, brilliant guy to me through my charity work. I just can’t believe it. It’s shocking. | Tom Nasmyth-Shaw, a long-time friend of Beynon, said he was devastated. He said: “We have known Spencer for years and he has been an amazing friend to us, he was a brilliant, brilliant guy to me through my charity work. I just can’t believe it. It’s shocking. |
| “He had served in the army all around the world – I think the whole town was incredibly proud of him. Spencer was massively for the community and he would do anything to help anyone. I think he will be best remembered for his loyalty – it was everything to him.” | “He had served in the army all around the world – I think the whole town was incredibly proud of him. Spencer was massively for the community and he would do anything to help anyone. I think he will be best remembered for his loyalty – it was everything to him.” |
| In July 2015 Beynon decided to put together a group to patrol the parks to ensure children were going home at a reasonable and safe hour during the long end-of-term holiday. | In July 2015 Beynon decided to put together a group to patrol the parks to ensure children were going home at a reasonable and safe hour during the long end-of-term holiday. |
| Cllr Robert Davies said: “It is very sad. He was a nice guy, always had time to say hello, very pleasant. He was always with his dog. | Cllr Robert Davies said: “It is very sad. He was a nice guy, always had time to say hello, very pleasant. He was always with his dog. |
| “I think he found it hard coming out of the army. So many of our soldiers who serve their country are forgotten about. | “I think he found it hard coming out of the army. So many of our soldiers who serve their country are forgotten about. |
| “He was a very fit young man. I would see him going to the gym or out on his bike, but he would always wave and say hello.” | “He was a very fit young man. I would see him going to the gym or out on his bike, but he would always wave and say hello.” |
| Another friend, Callum Evans, said he had met him for a coffee at his home on Monday. He said: “There was no inkling of anything going on, he was his bubbly, normal self. He was a legend, a real top guy and a well-liked character. He was unique, a one-in-a-million type of guy.” | Another friend, Callum Evans, said he had met him for a coffee at his home on Monday. He said: “There was no inkling of anything going on, he was his bubbly, normal self. He was a legend, a real top guy and a well-liked character. He was unique, a one-in-a-million type of guy.” |
| In 2014 Beynon admitted growing cannabis plants in his garage. At the time his solicitor, Laura Sherwood, said: “This gentleman suffers greatly, and when I say greatly, I don’t take that word lightly. | In 2014 Beynon admitted growing cannabis plants in his garage. At the time his solicitor, Laura Sherwood, said: “This gentleman suffers greatly, and when I say greatly, I don’t take that word lightly. |
| “I know there are people who come before the court saying that they suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder, but he suffers with this in everyday life. He says it is the only way to cope. This has come as a result of 15 years in the army and five operations.” | “I know there are people who come before the court saying that they suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder, but he suffers with this in everyday life. He says it is the only way to cope. This has come as a result of 15 years in the army and five operations.” |
| 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. | 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: | 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 | 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. | 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. | The use of Tasers continues to be monitored carefully by the IPCC. |
| In the 2014 report it acknowledged that Tasers could be a valuable tool in helping police officers manage difficult and challenging situations. | In the 2014 report it acknowledged that Tasers 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 overused. | 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 overused. |
| “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.” | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |