WATCH: Horror moment police officer tasers girl, 10, brandishing garden shears
Horror moment police officer tasers girl, 10, brandishing garden shears
Horrifying video footage of the moment a police officer was forced to use his taser on a girl, 10, brandishing a pair of garden shears has been released.
The police officer who discharged the stunning weapon has today been cleared of gross misconduct.
PC Jonathan Broadhead fired his Taser at the girl twice within seconds of entering her home in southwest London in January 21, 2021, after her mother called 999 when the child threatened her with a hammer and a pair of garden shears.
The Met Police constable was accused of using force “which was not necessary, reasonable and proportionate” against the girl, during a disciplinary hearing.
Following the incident, she was taken to hospital for treatment but did not sustain serious physical injuries.
Horror moment police officer tasers girl, 10, brandishing garden shears
IOPC
Some former officers and supporters of the police service have said the case should never have been a disciplinary matter in the first place.
Former officer Norman Brennan, who now campaigns on behalf of serving officers, posted on the social media site X, saying: “The mother of this 10-year-old girl phoned 999 pleading for help after being attacked with a hammer.
“Officer turns up and confronted with girl armed with garden shears not knowing who she may attack. Tasered her. Mother complained. Officer disciplined.
“You truly can’t make this s**t up.
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The moment police spot the girl brandishing the garden shears
IOPC
“A case that could and should have been dealt with differently!”
Met Police Commander Jon Savell said: “This is an extremely rare and unusual case.
“In the immediate days after the incident, a senior officer visited the address to apologise for the trauma caused to the girl and her family.
“Although no misconduct has been found, we repeat this apology today.
“The panel found that PC Broadhead did not breach professional standards based on the information known to him at the time and the clear threat presented, and that he had acted in accordance with his training for the safety of all those involved.
“Tasers provide officers with the ability to de-escalate situations and protect others from harm.”
The Met says that from January to October 2023, tasers were used 5,314 times but only discharged on 359 occasions. 17 of those discharges were against people under 18.