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Timeline of Taser controversies in the UK Timeline of Taser controversies in the UK
(35 minutes later)
The death of former footballer Dalian Atkinson after being Tasered by the police in Telford has prompted renewed concern about police use of the weapon. There have now been at least 15 deaths linked to the use of Tasers since they were introduced in 2003. The death of the former footballer Dalian Atkinson after being Tasered by the police in Telford has prompted renewed concern about police use of the weapon. There have been at least 16 deaths linked to the use of Tasers since they were introduced in 2003.
In July 2014 the IPCC found that none of the eight deaths it had completed investigating at the time was directly caused by Tasers. Since those investigations were completed there have been seven more Taser-linked deaths. Here is timeline of deaths, and other incidents, linked to the use of Tasers in the last decade. In July 2014 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that none of the eight deaths it had completed investigating at the time was directly caused by Tasers. Since those investigations were completed there have been eight more Taser-linked deaths. Here is a timeline of deaths, and other incidents, linked to the use of Tasers in the past decade.
May 2006May 2006
Officers from Greater Manchester police fired two Tasers at John Butler after he shot himself in the head at the end of a 19-hour stand off in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. An investigation found that use of the Taser was justified as Butler was still alive at the time and holding a gun. The inquest verdict was suicide. Officers from Greater Manchester police fired two Tasers at John Butler after he shot himself in the head at the end of a 19-hour standoff in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. An investigation found that use of the Taser was justified as Butler was still alive at the time and holding a gun. The inquest verdict was suicide.
October 2006October 2006
Brian Loan, 47, died three days after being shot with a Taser and baton round by officers from Durham police after acting aggressively towards them in Sacriston, County Durham. A postmortem concluded the death was due to natural causes.Brian Loan, 47, died three days after being shot with a Taser and baton round by officers from Durham police after acting aggressively towards them in Sacriston, County Durham. A postmortem concluded the death was due to natural causes.
October 2006October 2006
Robert Haines was Tasered after being shot by a Metropolitan police officer after robbing a building society in New Romney, Kent, armed with a shotgun. An The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation found that the use of a Taser was an appropriate tactic to minimise the potential risk. An inquest found he was lawfully killed by multiple gunshot wounds. Robert Haines was Tasered after being shot by a Metropolitan police officer after robbing a building society in New Romney, Kent, armed with a shotgun. The IPCC found that the use of a Taser was an appropriate tactic to minimise the potential risk. An inquest found he was lawfully killed by multiple gunshot wounds.
January 2008January 2008
Justin Petty, a 31-year-old man who had biopolar disorder, cut his throat in his mother’s loft in Goldginton, Bedfordshire, after being Tasered by an officer from Bedfordshire police. A postmortem found that Petty died of self-inflicted stab wounds to the chest and neck. Justin Petty, a 31-year-old man who had bipolar disorder, cut his throat in his mother’s loft in Goldington, Bedfordshire, after being Tasered by an officer from Bedfordshire police. A postmortem found that Petty died of self-inflicted stab wounds to the chest and neck.
July 2010July 2010
After a week-long search, fugitive Raoul Moat was cornered near the town of Rothbury, in Northumberland after killing a man, wounding his girlfriend and blinding police officer David Rathband. Northumbria police officers fired Tasers at Moat before the weapon he was holding went off and killed him. An inquest later ruled that Moat took his own life after police fired an unapproved Taser at him. After a week-long search, fugitive Raoul Moat was cornered near the town of Rothbury, in Northumberland, after killing a man, wounding his girlfriend and blinding police officer David Rathband. Northumbria police officers fired Tasers at Moat before the weapon he was holding went off and killed him. An inquest later ruled that Moat took his own life after police fired an unapproved Taser at him.
August 2011August 2011
Dale Burns, a 27-year-old bodybuilder from Barrow-in-Furness, was Tasered four times by officers from Cumbria police in less than a minute as they struggled to arrest him. A coroner found that the death of 27-year-old Dale Burns, who was Tasered and pepper-sprayed by officers from Cumbria police around a week earlier, was caused by the use of the drug Madcat, rather than police action. Dale Burns, a 27-year-old bodybuilder from Barrow-in-Furness, was Tasered four times by officers from Cumbria police in less than a minute as they struggled to arrest him. A coroner found that the death of Burns, who had been Tasered and pepper-sprayed by officers from Cumbria police about a week earlier, was caused by the use of the drug Madcat, rather than police action.
August 2011August 2011
Philip Hulmes, 53, died after he was Tasered at his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Police said he had threatened officers with a knife, and only at that point did it become apparent he had already stabbed himself. The inquest found that Hulmes had taken his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed. Philip Hulmes, 53, died after he was Tasered at his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Police said he had threatened officers with a knife, and only at that point did it become apparent he had already stabbed himself. The inquest found that Hulmes took his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.
February 2012February 2012
Lithuanian man Ernestas Anikinas died after cutting himself with a broken bottle at Gatwick airport. He dropped the bottle after being Tasered by two police officers. An investigation found that the use of Tasers was appropriate. An inquest found that Anikinas took his own life.Lithuanian man Ernestas Anikinas died after cutting himself with a broken bottle at Gatwick airport. He dropped the bottle after being Tasered by two police officers. An investigation found that the use of Tasers was appropriate. An inquest found that Anikinas took his own life.
October 2012October 2012
A 61-year-old blind man was Tasered in the back by police who thought his stick was a samurai sword. He was later offered an undisclosed sum by Lancashire police after it admitted using excessive force. It was the first case involving a Taser where a police force has admitted using unreasonable use of force and accepted that the officer did not conduct an adequate risk assessment before discharging the weapon.A 61-year-old blind man was Tasered in the back by police who thought his stick was a samurai sword. He was later offered an undisclosed sum by Lancashire police after it admitted using excessive force. It was the first case involving a Taser where a police force has admitted using unreasonable use of force and accepted that the officer did not conduct an adequate risk assessment before discharging the weapon.
July 2013July 2013
Factory worker Jordan Lee Begley, 23, died two hours after a Greater Manchester police officer shot him with a stun gun at his home in Gorton. Police had been called to his home following an argument. The IPCC initially cleared Greater Manchester police of any blame in Begley’s death, but in an unprecedented move the watchdog has been granted a judicial review to quash its own report into the incident. Jordan Begley, a 23-year-old factory worker, died two hours after a Greater Manchester police officer shot him with a stun gun at his home in Gorton. Police had been called to his home following an argument. The IPCC initially cleared Greater Manchester police of any blame in Begley’s death, but in an unprecedented move the watchdog has been granted a judicial review to quash its own report into the incident.
August 2013August 2013
A police constable discharged a 50,000-volt Taser at Andrew Pimlott during an incident at his parents’ home after he doused himself with petrol. An inquest later found that the firing of the device was the most likely cause of Pimlott’s death.A police constable discharged a 50,000-volt Taser at Andrew Pimlott during an incident at his parents’ home after he doused himself with petrol. An inquest later found that the firing of the device was the most likely cause of Pimlott’s death.
October 2014October 2014
Matthew Williams died after he was Tasered in Caerphilly following an attack on a young woman in a bedroom at a hostel for homeless people in the Welsh valleys. His mother said Williams was a habitual criminal who had had psychiatric problems since he was 16. Matthew Williams died after he was Tasered in Caerphilly following an attack on a woman in a bedroom at a hostel for homeless people in the Welsh valleys. His mother said Williams was a habitual criminal who had had psychiatric problems since he was 16.
December 2014December 2014
Adrian Thompson, a 34-year-old man died after being Tasered by Staffordshire police who thought he was breaking into property in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Friends insisted he had been invited to a birthday party at the home. Adrian Thompson, 34, died after being Tasered by Staffordshire police who thought he was breaking into a property in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Friends insisted he had been invited to a birthday party at the house.
October 2015October 2015
A man was shot by police in Kilburn, north London, after officers unsuccessfully used a Taser to try to restrain him. Officers had been called to a disturbance and located a man believed to be in possession of a knife. A man was shot by police in Kilburn, north-west London, after officers unsuccessfully used a Taser to try to restrain him. Officers had been called to a disturbance and located a man believed to be in possession of a knife.
January 2016
The IPCC is investigating the death of Tony Hanley, a civilian staff member of the Met police, after he shot himself near his home in Wallington, Surrey, soon after being Tasered by police. Officers also hit Hanley with baton rounds before he turned a gun on himself.
June 2016June 2016
Former soldier Spencer Beynon, who had post-traumatic stress disorder, died after being Tasered by police near his home in Llanelli, south Wales. Eyewitnesses said they saw someone armed with a knife looking “totally out of it” before stabbing a dog and then himself. The IPPC is investigating. Former soldier Spencer Beynon, who had post-traumatic stress disorder, died after being Tasered by police near his home in Llanelli, south Wales. Witnesses said they saw someone armed with a knife looking “totally out of it” before stabbing a dog and then himself. The IPCC is investigating.
August 2016August 2016
Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson died after he was reportedly Tasered three times by the police. The 48-year-old died about 90 minutes after an incident involving two officers in the Trench areas of Telford, Shropshire, outside his father’s home. The former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson died after he was reportedly Tasered three times by the police. Atkinson, 48, died about 90 minutes after an incident involving two officers in the Trench area of Telford, Shropshire, outside his father’s home.