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| Man dies in police Taser shooting in Newcastle-under-Lyme | Man dies in police Taser shooting in Newcastle-under-Lyme |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has died after being shot by police with a Taser during a suspected burglary in Staffordshire. | A man has died after being shot by police with a Taser during a suspected burglary in Staffordshire. |
| Officers were responding to a reported break-in in Audley Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, shortly after 01:00 GMT. | Officers were responding to a reported break-in in Audley Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, shortly after 01:00 GMT. |
| The occupants had left before officers arrived, leaving the man inside the property. A Taser was discharged and the man was taken to a police vehicle. | |
| He "became unresponsive" and despite the efforts of paramedics died a short time later, Staffordshire Police said. | He "became unresponsive" and despite the efforts of paramedics died a short time later, Staffordshire Police said. |
| 'Highest Taser use' | 'Highest Taser use' |
| The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| In a report by the IPCC in July, Staffordshire Police were shown to have the highest use of Tasers per capita in the country. | In a report by the IPCC in July, Staffordshire Police were shown to have the highest use of Tasers per capita in the country. |
| An independent panel found they were discharged on 72 occasions and drawn "as a deterrent" 547 times over nine years. | An independent panel found they were discharged on 72 occasions and drawn "as a deterrent" 547 times over nine years. |
| Neighbour Mark Finney, who lives near the flat,said: "I heard severe banging and shouting last night about 1.30. I got up to have a cup of coffee. | |
| "There was somebody in distress and there was a lot of shouting and banging but I didn't know the police had been called. | |
| "It seemed like somebody was arguing with somebody and shouting and banging things around." | |
| Controversial Taser use | Controversial Taser use |
| Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003, but their use over the years has been surrounded with controversy: | Tasers were introduced into British policing in 2003, but their use over the years has been surrounded with controversy: |
| Acpo said officers must pass a nationally recognised training course before they are allowed to deploy a Taser. | Acpo said officers must pass a nationally recognised training course before they are allowed to deploy a Taser. |
| Commander Neil Basu, from Acpo, said: "While Taser is always an option of last resort, officers must be free to act in the best interests of public safety, whoever the person posing a threat may be." | Commander Neil Basu, from Acpo, said: "While Taser is always an option of last resort, officers must be free to act in the best interests of public safety, whoever the person posing a threat may be." |
| In September it emerged that a review into the use of Tasers by the force found that officers discharged them on one out of 10 occasions when they were drawn. | In September it emerged that a review into the use of Tasers by the force found that officers discharged them on one out of 10 occasions when they were drawn. |
| The force used Tasers 33 times for every 100 officers in 2013, and a total of 619 times in nine years, according to the police watchdog. | The force used Tasers 33 times for every 100 officers in 2013, and a total of 619 times in nine years, according to the police watchdog. |
| The force said the use of a Taser was "a last resort for officers". | The force said the use of a Taser was "a last resort for officers". |
| What is a Taser? | What is a Taser? |
| The Taser fires two darts with a five-second, 50,000-volt charge, which can temporarily disable its target. | The Taser fires two darts with a five-second, 50,000-volt charge, which can temporarily disable its target. |
| Its ammunition consists of a single-use compressed air cartridge which fires the darts and has to be replaced each time the weapon is fired. | Its ammunition consists of a single-use compressed air cartridge which fires the darts and has to be replaced each time the weapon is fired. |
| Police guidelines stipulate the device may be used where officers face "a risk of serious violence". | Police guidelines stipulate the device may be used where officers face "a risk of serious violence". |
| Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 and rolled out across both countries in 2008, and were not limited to specialist firearms officers. | Tasers were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 and rolled out across both countries in 2008, and were not limited to specialist firearms officers. |