Get you up to speed: Police say they are ‘justified’ pointing Tasers at teenage girls | News UK
Police in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, responded to a 999 call reporting a fight involving young people, which led to the Tasering of a group of teenage girls. South Yorkshire Police stated that the use of force was “proportionate, necessary and justified.”
South Yorkshire Police mentioned that the incident was a response to a 999 call reporting a fight involving numerous young people, and the footage shared online only depicts a brief portion of a longer police response. Although the incident did not meet the criteria for independent assessment, the police requested a peer review from another force, which upheld their determination regarding the use of Tasers.
South Yorkshire Police stated the use of Tasers against a group of teenage girls was “proportionate, necessary and justified” in response to a reported fight involving multiple young people. Despite this endorsement, the force acknowledged public concerns and requested a peer review from another police force to ensure accountability, which upheld their determination.
What remains unclear — It is not specified what constituted the reported fight that prompted the police response.
Police defend use of Tasers on teenage girls as proportionate and justified
Police have said Tasering a group of teenage girls was ‘proportionate, necessary and justified’.
Footage widely shared online shows a number of young girls in party dresses surrounding at least six officers in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, at the weekend.
One of the officers appears to shove one of the teenagers before drawing his baton. The incident quickly escalates with some girls ending up on the floor and two officers begin pointing their Tasers.
Another appears to hit out at a girl as she lunges at him.
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They said there was ‘an opportunity for learning around de-escalation’ but said: ‘As is often the case, the clip which has been posted on social media shows only a few seconds of a much longer police response to a 999 call – reporting a fight involving many young people.
‘Having viewed the clip in isolation, it is understandable that local and wider communities have some concerns.’
The force went on to say: ‘The public’s trust and confidence in policing is dependent on openness and accountability.
‘As such, while this incident did not meet the national criteria for independent assessment, we took the unprecedented step of requesting peer review from another police force.
‘The review upheld the determination.’