‘Use of Taser was proportionate and necessary’

The Police Ombudsman has ruled that the use of a Taser on a man who was threatening to kill himself was “proportionate and necessary” in order to prevent him from causing further self-harm.

That is the finding of an investigation into an incident at a house in Newtownabbey in December 2011 when police received a 999 call reporting that the man (Man A) had a knife and rope and was threatening to kill himself.

A police Armed Response Vehicle, containing three officers, was tasked in response. Two officers entered by the front door of the house, while another went in via a rear door. A relative of Man A told them he was in a downstairs bedroom.

The relative led two officers to the bedroom and entered the room first, followed by two officers. As they did so, Man A put a knife to his throat and shouted: “I’m going to kill myself.”

One of the officers then pulled Man A’s relative out of the way and fired the Taser. Despite being struck by the barbs from the weapon, Man A held on to the knife.

After some negotiation, Man A threw the knife onto a bed. Officers were then able to restrain and handcuff him.