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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Thom

Police taser Scots schoolboy, 11, 'armed with knife' at Craig Tara as watchdog launch probe

A police watchdog probe has been launched after an 11-year-old boy was tasered by cops during a tense showdown at a Craig Tara.

An investigation will be carried out into the disturbing incident which saw the lad zapped to the ground after he is alleged to have brandished a knife.

Ayrshire Live understands that police raced to the holiday super-park near Ayr on Wednesday, March 22 after a disturbance kicked off outside a caravan.

The tense moment was captured on video which shows an officer fire the 50,000-volt device into the boy who is wielding a blade.

Police Scotland have confirmed the case will be sent to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland: “Officers attended a disturbance involving an 11-year-old boy in possession of a knife at Craig Tara Caravan Park near Ayr around 11.15pm on Wednesday, March 22.

“The incident was resolved with no serious injuries. It was contained and there was no risk to the wider public.

"A taser was discharged during this incident. As part of standard procedure, the circumstances of the incident were referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner."

Meanwhile Carrick, Cumnnock and Doon Valley MSP Elena Whitham says people have been "extremely disturbed" by the incident in her constituency as she welcomed an independent review and scrutiny.

Elena Whitham has called for a review into police using tasers on under-18s (Daily Record)

The SNP politician said: “I fully appreciate that people will have found the news and footage of this incident extremely disturbing, and whilst understanding that Police Scotland have a duty of care to keep the public safe - and not knowing the specific details of this case, I am reassured that they have reported this matter to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner where it will receive due independent review and scrutiny."

NSPCC Scotland chiefs hit out at the incident over the weekend as they called for police to review their use of stun gun's on under-18s.

And Ms Whitham has sided with the national children's protection charity and has vowed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs over the issue.

Ms Whitham added: “It is also the case that I do agree with NSPCC Scotland’s position and support their calls for a review into the use of Tasers on under-18s and to look at other effective ways to manage pressurised incidents involving children and young people, and I will be writing to my colleague Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in this regard.”

Craig Tara say the incident was 'serious but isolated' and have confirmed they worked with police when they were called to the park that evening.

A spokesperson for Haven said: “We are aware that a serious and isolated incident occurred at our Craig Tara site in March. We fully cooperated with the police at the time and as this is now a matter for the authorities, we are unable to comment further.”

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