Mother of 10-year-old girl Tasered in own home says she wouldn't have called police if she knew what would happen

27 November 2023, 12:45

Body-worn footage was played at the panel hearing, showing PC Broadhead had shouted towards Child A, saying “put it down” as she appeared to pick up the shears, before heading up the stairs [File Photo]
Body-worn footage was played at the panel hearing, showing PC Broadhead had shouted towards Child A, saying “put it down” as she appeared to pick up the shears, before heading up the stairs [File Photo]. Picture: Alamy
Fraser Knight

By Fraser Knight

The mother of a child, who was tasered in her own home, has said she would never have called the police if she’d known that would happen.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The girl - Child A - who was aged 10 at the time, had been threatening her mum with a hammer and garden shears, leading the woman - Ms A - to call the police for help.

Within eight seconds of entering their home, in January 2021, PC Jonathan Broadhead had deployed his taser on the girl twice.

“I wanted the police to help me convince her to put down the shears and the hammer, by talking to her,” Ms A told a gross misconduct panel in South London.

“When the officers arrived, everything was very quick. They came in and they charged in front of me.

“There was lots of shouting and I remember my daughter sitting in the kitchen with the hammer and shears.

“I felt that she was scared, and she went to run up the stairs and that was when she was shot with the taser.

“I was shocked at how they handled it. I wouldn’t have called the police if I knew she would’ve been tasered.”

Read more: 'He's a child!' Footage shows moment police Taser 14-year-old boy and put him in headlock as bystanders plead for him

Read more: Shocking moments before police Taser violent dog and shove it in a wheelie bin

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has claimed PC Jonathan Broadhead’s actions amount to gross misconduct.

They say the use of force was not reasonable or proportionate to the risk posed by Child A at the time.

The police watchdog’s lawyer, Ms Olivia Checa-Dover, said: “There is little to no doubt that a child carrying shears comes with risk.

"The question is whether tasering her twice, seemingly skipping calmer de-escalation tactics or a red dot challenge was proportionate for that risk.”

At the opening of a misconduct panel hearing, PC Broadhead said: “I deny the allegations”.

His lawyer, Mr Rob Morris, questioned Ms A at the hearing, saying: “At no point did you say to the call handler that you wanted the police to come and talk to her, you were scared of what she might have done to you, is that correct?”

“Yes,” Ms A replied.

It was revealed that Child A’s mobile phone had been taken away from her by her mother, leading to an argument, which became increasingly aggressive.

Ms A also agreed that her 10-year-old’s behaviour may have been affected by the use of ‘edibles’ - cannabis-infused sweets.

Body-worn footage was played at the panel hearing, showing PC Broadhead shouting towards Child A, saying “put it down” as she appeared to pick up the shears, before heading up the stairs.

The footage then shows the officer had shouted “taser” numerous times as a warning, but the panel heard even Child A’s mother had never heard of a taser before then.

In her written evidence, Ms A said: “I thought they were just pointing something at her and trying to scare her.”

In her opening remarks, Ms Olivia Checa-Dover, representing the IOPC, said: “A child may not know what is being shouted at them, rather just the fact that an adult is shouting at them.

“Shouting ‘taser’ before using one in these circumstances may not have been a proper warning to her.”

If found guilty of gross misconduct, PC Jonathan Broadhead could face being sacked from the Metropolitan Police.

He denies using an unreasonable level of force against Child A with his panel hearing due to continue through the week.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Temperatures will soar as high as 26C over the weekend

Exact date UK will be hotter than Spain as temperatures set to soar to 26C

Kamonnan Thiamphanit, also known as Angela, died at the property

Mystery as family of Thai murder victim say her iPad played '5 hours of violent rap' before and after disappearance

Natalie Elphicke has clearly 'had a massive 180° change in views' as she was 'on right of Tory Party' minister tells LBC

Natalie Elphicke has clearly 'had a miraculous overnight massive 180 degree change in views' minister tells LBC

Survivor Henry De Los Rios Polania (L) and Daniel Anjorin (R) who died in the attack

'Hero' dad who fought off Hainault attacker says 'miracle' saved family as he was convinced they were 'going to die'

Rubiales will stand trial and faces over two years behind bars

Disgraced Spanish football boss Luis Rubiales to stand trial over Jenni Hermoso World Cup kiss and could face jail time

Waitrose executive director James Bailey said he thinks the era of cheap food is coming to an end

The ‘era of cheap food is over,’ warns Waitrose boss

Exclusive
Cornel West told LBC academic bosses they should be proud of their students over the protests.

‘Shame on you Rishi Sunak’: Activist at centre of US campus protests criticises PM’s continued funding of Israel

Mr Zahawi announced he is stepping down

Tory exodus grows as former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi to stand down at next election in latest blow for Rishi Sunak

OLY Paris Torch Arrival

Torchbearers in Marseille to kick off Olympic flame’s journey across France

Harry was joined for the service of thanksgiving by close relatives of his mother

Prince Harry backed by Diana's family at Invictus Games service after being snubbed by King twice during UK visit

Severe Weather Michigan

Powerful storms kill three as tornadoes tear through parts of US

Dodgers Ohtani Investigation Baseball

Ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani will plead guilty in betting case

Joe Biden (L), Benjamin Netanyahu (R)

US will stop supply of weapons to Israel if Rafah invasion goes ahead, Biden warns Netanyahu

Labour is facing backlash after Natalie Elphicke was accepted into the party

Labour backlash after Keir Starmer welcomes former Tory Natalie Elphicke into party

Joe Biden

Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah

Pro-Palestinian protests have been growing across campuses in the UK

Sunak warns university chiefs to protect Jewish students as pro-Palestine protests grow across UK campuses