An army veteran has been paid £50,000 in compensation by Bedfordshire police after he was Tasered while suffering a flashback triggered by post-traumatic stress disorder. The former army corporal, known only as Michael for legal reasons, was knocked out by the 1,500-volt shock immediately after he asked the officer to put the Taser down.
The incident occurred on 5 May 2014 when Michael's partner Joanne called police after the former serviceman suffered a flashback as they drove through Luton. Michael punched the car windscreen, said he was going to kill Joanne then himself, and hid in bushes outside Luton and Dunstable hospital, believing he was still in the army.
Officers negotiated calmly for an hour before one drew his Taser and instructed Michael to put his hands behind his back. Michael asked the officer to put down his weapon so they could talk, but was immediately Tasered, collapsing unconscious as officers handcuffed him. A pocket notebook recorded that due to the length of time, officers decided to take Michael to hospital, but he was Tasered after saying, 'Ok, let's talk'.
Michael was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital. A subsequent internal review by a nationally trained Taser instructor found no rise in threat level before the shock was discharged. However, the force refused to uphold a complaint, concluding the officer honestly believed such force was necessary. Michael's solicitor, Gus Silverman, called that finding erroneous, noting the test is whether the officer honestly and reasonably believed it was necessary.
Michael said the incident left him 'too terrified to leave my own home in case I saw the police again' and forced him to move away. He urged better police training on mental health issues, stating: 'It's really important that officers think very carefully before using a Taser, particularly on someone with mental health problems, as it can ruin lives.'
