An officer from the Metropolitan Police has been cleared of gross misconduct after using a Taser on a 10-year-old girl. PC Jonathan Broadhead used the Taser twice after the girl threatened her mother with garden shears. The incident took place in Brixton, south London, on 21 January 2021. PC Broadhead was accused of using force that was not necessary, reasonable, or proportionate. However, the Met Police misconduct panel found the allegations were not proven, stating that PC Broadhead’s actions were based on an “honestly held belief” that the girl presented a risk.
The girl’s mother called the police after her daughter threatened her with the shears and hit her with a hammer. This happened after the mother confiscated the girl’s mobile phone due to concerns about her online activity. The mother testified that she worried her daughter’s behavior may have been affected by the consumption of cannabis edibles and that the girl had struck her with the hammer after she called the police.
PC Broadhead fired his Taser at the girl twice within “approximately eight seconds” of entering her home. The girl, identified as Child A during the hearing, was still holding the garden shears when the Taser was discharged. The panel heard from an expert who explained the equipment options available to officers in similar scenarios.
The panel’s decision has sparked controversy, with some criticizing the use of a Taser on a child. Meanwhile, the police continue to face criticism for their handling of cases involving minors. Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to address this issue and improve the interaction between the police and young people. As the process continues, it’s hoped that such incidents will become less common
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