A misconduct hearing has found that a Met constable who fired a Taser at a 10-year-old girl acted appropriately.
PC Jonathan Broadhead reportedly fired the stun gun within seconds after responding to a 999 call in South West London. The mother of the girl, named as Child A, made the call after she was threatened with a hammer and shears.
PC Broadhead fired the Taser twice, leaving three barbs in Child A’s skin which had to be removed by paramedics. He was accused of using force which was “not necessary, reasonable and proportionate” against the girl.
Cannabis consumption
Giving evidence at the hearing at Palestra House, PC Broadhead said that he was worried what Child A’s intentions with the shears were.
The child’s mother said her daughter’s behaviour may have been affected by the consumption of cannabis edibles.
She previously said that she was “shocked” by the way things were handled and had expected the officer to de-escalate the situation verbally.
‘Professional standards’
An independent panel, however, found that PC Broadhead did not breach police conduct regulations: “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.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct also passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS concluded there should be no further action.
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HeadlineMet Police officer cleared of misconduct for Tasering 10-year-old girl
Short HeadlineMet officer cleared for Tasering 10-year-old girl
StandfirstPC Jonathan Broadhead fired his Taser twice at the girl who was found brandishing shears in January 2021.
A misconduct hearing has found that a Met constable who fired a Taser at a 10-year-old girl acted appropriately.
PC Jonathan Broadhead reportedly fired the stun gun within seconds after responding to a 999 call in South West London. The mother of the girl, named as Child A, made the call after she was threatened with a hammer and shears.
PC Broadhead fired the Taser twice, leaving three barbs in Child A’s skin which had to be removed by paramedics. He was accused of using force which was “not necessary, reasonable and proportionate” against the girl.
Cannabis consumption
Giving evidence at the hearing at Palestra House, PC Broadhead said that he was worried what Child A’s intentions with the shears were.
The child’s mother said her daughter’s behaviour may have been affected by the consumption of cannabis edibles.
She previously said that she was “shocked” by the way things were handled and had expected the officer to de-escalate the situation verbally.
‘Professional standards’
An independent panel, however, found that PC Broadhead did not breach police conduct regulations: “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.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct also passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS concluded there should be no further action.
