22/10/2013

IPCC Uphold Complaint Against Police Over Taser Use

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) have upheld a complaint against two police officers, who were dismissed from the force over an incident in which they Tasered a man five times.

PCs Simon Jones and Joanne Kelly were dismissed for gross misconduct after a disciplinary hearing ruled that they had wrongly arrested 26-year-old Kyle McArdle and shot him five times with a stun gun while he was in the back of a police van.

The arresting officers claimed he was violent and the Taser was needed to restrain him.

However, a magistrates cleared Mr McArdle of assaulting the two PCs.

Mr McArdle then brought the complaint against the officers saying that the repeated use of a Taser was disproportionate, particularly within the confines of the police van.

The IPCC upheld his complaint recommending that Merseyside Police re-investigate, looking specifically at the use of a stun gun.

However, the force's leading Taser instructor found that the Taser use was "necessary, proportionate, reasonable and in line with the officers' training".

The IPCC subsequently upheld and second appeal by McArdle, finding that the officers should have been served with notices for gross misconduct and interviewed under caution.

(MH/CD)

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