Taser discharge - Metropolitan Police Service, February 2018

On 5 February 2018 Metropolitan Police Service officers were called to reports of a man in possession of knives in a hospital in south London. The man, who had mental health difficulties and had self-harmed, was located by police officers. A confrontation followed, during which two police officers Tasered the man.

Our investigators attended the scene and conducted a detailed examination alongside a scenes of crime officer, who took photographs. We obtained statements from 24 police officers, and collected and analysed 21 pieces of police-issued body-worn camera footage. We reviewed hospital CCTV, along with body-worn footage from hospital staff. We also obtained data from the computer-aided dispatch system and downloads from Tasers.

In our opinion, the officers responded appropriately to this incident, considered all tactical options and gave a comprehensive rationale about their decision to discharge a Taser at the man.

We found no indication that any police officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.