Taser review after policeman injured

Holsters replaced following injury to firearms expert

POLICE are replacing all taser holsters after an officer accidentally zapped himself.

The firearms expert discharged the weapon’s electric barbs into his own finger as he got ready for duty in May in Dumfries.

An independent investigation by the new Police Investigations Review Commissioner, Kate Frame, blamed his holster for the accident, in which he was slightly hurt.

Experts found that putting a taser in and out of the holster could flick its safety catch on and off. They also discovered longstanding concerns about the holster among firearms officers in the former Dumfries and Galloway force, Scotland’s smallest before the current national service was created.

Ms Frame said:

“Although preventable, the fault cannot sit entirely with the operator in this incident as the design of the taser holster itself predicates an accidental discharge.

“To prevent further similar incidents I hope Police Scotland will act quickly on my recommendation they stop using this type of holster.”

Chief Superintendent Elaine Ferguson said all taser holsters would be replaced soon.

She said: “Police Scotland note the findings of this report, including the recognition that if accepted practice and procedures had been fully adhered to it would not have occurred. The recommendations, some of which have already been addressed, will be considered fully and where appropriate will be acted upon.

“In respect of the procurement and roll-out of replacement holsters, this process is already in progress and will be completed shortly.”

The officer involved in the incident was hurt at the Cornwall Mount police offices in Dumfries on May 26. The injured policeman, who has not been named, was the safety officer on the scene and was supervising four colleagues at the time but was not, as he should have been, being supervised himself.

Ms Frame said such supervision should be done on a one-toone basis.

Her team investigates all incidents when firearms, including tasers, are fired, whether by mistake or on purpose.

The Scottish Police Federation this summer called for tasers to be carried in all police vehicles as a safety measure. The weapons are currently handled by specialist firearms officers and used to incapacitate those who present a threat to themselves or others. POLICE are continuing their search for a knife-wielding thief who stole a till while holding up a newsagents.

The man was caught on CCTV as he entered the First News store on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, at around 3pm on Sunday before making off with the cash machine and its contents.

Detective Inspector Stuart Harkness appealed to anyone who recognises the suspect or saw anything supicious on the day to contact police immediately.