South Yorkshire Police have stated that officers pointing Tasers at a group of teenage girls during an incident in Rawmarsh, Rotherham, was 'proportionate, necessary and justified'. The force reviewed widely shared footage and bodyworn video before reaching this conclusion.
Footage Shows Escalation
The video, captured at the weekend, shows young girls in party dresses surrounding at least six police officers. One officer appears to shove a teenager before drawing his baton. The situation quickly escalates, with some girls ending up on the floor and two officers drawing their Tasers. Another officer appears to strike a girl as she lunges at him.
Police Review and Findings
South Yorkshire Police acknowledged 'an opportunity for learning around de-escalation' but emphasised that the clip shared on social media shows only a few seconds of a longer response to a 999 call reporting a fight involving many young people. The force stated: 'Having viewed the clip in isolation, it is understandable that local and wider communities have some concerns.'
Unprecedented Peer Review
The force added: '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.'
