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Police right to Taser knife-wielding boy threatening suicide, inquiry rules | Police right to Taser knife-wielding boy threatening suicide, inquiry rules |
(4 months later) | |
Police firearms officers who fired a baton round and a Taser to subdue a 15-year-old boy armed with a large knife used "proportionate and justified" force, an inquiry has found. | Police firearms officers who fired a baton round and a Taser to subdue a 15-year-old boy armed with a large knife used "proportionate and justified" force, an inquiry has found. |
Scotland's independent police investigations commissioner ruled that Police Scotland had rightly used both weapons after the teenager had begun self-harming with the knife, threatened suicide and then lunged at police officers, in an incident at Bannockburn primary school near Stirling. | Scotland's independent police investigations commissioner ruled that Police Scotland had rightly used both weapons after the teenager had begun self-harming with the knife, threatened suicide and then lunged at police officers, in an incident at Bannockburn primary school near Stirling. |
Local people called the police after the boy ran into the playground at about 9pm on Saturday 4 May, and had started wounding himself and threatened to stab himself in the chest. He had been playing with a group of friends, but had run home to fetch the knife. | Local people called the police after the boy ran into the playground at about 9pm on Saturday 4 May, and had started wounding himself and threatened to stab himself in the chest. He had been playing with a group of friends, but had run home to fetch the knife. |
Neighbours told the Stirling Observer that the boy's mother, who has not been identified, was being comforted by police during the incident. | Neighbours told the Stirling Observer that the boy's mother, who has not been identified, was being comforted by police during the incident. |
Professor John McNeill, the police investigations and review commissioner (Pirc), said: "In this case the use of the baton round and Taser allowed police to control the boy, disarm him and ensured that he did not seriously injure either himself or the officers. In the circumstances there was no less forceful method to resolve this incident safely." | Professor John McNeill, the police investigations and review commissioner (Pirc), said: "In this case the use of the baton round and Taser allowed police to control the boy, disarm him and ensured that he did not seriously injure either himself or the officers. In the circumstances there was no less forceful method to resolve this incident safely." |
McNeill said on Wednesday that the police sent armed officers and a police negotiator after the teenager brandished the knife at officers, threatened to stab them, and began cutting his hands and arms. | McNeill said on Wednesday that the police sent armed officers and a police negotiator after the teenager brandished the knife at officers, threatened to stab them, and began cutting his hands and arms. |
He said: "Over a period of two hours police attempted to resolve the incident and persuade the boy to disarm. However he became increasingly agitated and continued to self-harm. | He said: "Over a period of two hours police attempted to resolve the incident and persuade the boy to disarm. However he became increasingly agitated and continued to self-harm. |
"When he threatened to commit suicide by stabbing himself in the chest and appeared to be attempting to attack an officer, police fired a baton round and then a Taser at him. This allowed the police to disarm the boy and take him into custody." | "When he threatened to commit suicide by stabbing himself in the chest and appeared to be attempting to attack an officer, police fired a baton round and then a Taser at him. This allowed the police to disarm the boy and take him into custody." |
The teenager was taken to hospital for treatment but "suffered no after-effects of the use of Taser or the baton round other than minor bruising". He was charged with a public order offence and possessing the knife, and put in the care of local social workers. | The teenager was taken to hospital for treatment but "suffered no after-effects of the use of Taser or the baton round other than minor bruising". He was charged with a public order offence and possessing the knife, and put in the care of local social workers. |
A Pirc spokeswoman said the boy's mother had been consulted and interviewed during the investigation. It is not thought she has made any complaint against the police. | A Pirc spokeswoman said the boy's mother had been consulted and interviewed during the investigation. It is not thought she has made any complaint against the police. |
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