23 September 2020 | Investigations
Investigation report: Taser discharge by police in Dumfries was proportionate
About 2212 hours on Friday 29 May 2020, a Specially Trained Officer (STO), of Police Scotland, discharged a Taser at a 19-year-old man in Dumfries. At the time of the incident, Coronavirus regulations were in force.
Investigation report submitted to Police Scotland: Taser discharge by STO, Dumfries, 29 May 2020
BACKGROUND
About 2212 hours on Friday 29 May 2020, a Specially Trained Officer (STO), of Police Scotland, discharged a Taser at a 19-year-old man in Dumfries. At the time of the incident, Coronavirus regulations were in force.
Beforehand, a number of telephone calls were received by Police Scotland reporting a large scale disturbance involving several men fighting with knives. It was also reported that a number of people had been injured.
Police officers, including an STO, were sent to the incident and on arrival saw the 19-year-old man with a knife.
Before the officers could instruct the man to drop the knife, he moved towards the STO, who believing that he was in imminent danger, discharged his Taser at him. The initial discharge missed the man who then threw the knife at the officer striking him on the shoulder. The officer discharged his Taser again which had an immediate effect
The man was arrested and later reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
REFERRAL TO THE PIRC
On 1 June 2020, Police Scotland referred the incident to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) in terms of Section 33A(c) of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 as amended and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Investigations Procedure, Serious Incidents and Specified Weapons) Regulations 2013 as a notifiable serious incident.
PIRC INVESTIGATION
PIRC Investigators examined statements from civilian and police witnesses, STORM command and control logs, Airwave radio transmissions and the telephone recordings.
PIRC FINDINGS
The investigation finds:
- On arrival, police officers were confronted by a man carrying a knife who shortly before had been reported as being involved in a serious incident involving several people.
- Before the officers could instruct the man to drop the knife, he moved towards the STO, who believing that he was in imminent danger, discharged his Taser at him. The initial discharge missed the man who then threw the knife at the officer striking him on the shoulder. The officer discharged his Taser again which had an immediate effect.
- The use of Taser to control the man and enable his arrest was necessary, proportionate and justified.
RECOMMENDATIONS
No recommendations were made.