A 90-year-old woman was handcuffed, made to wear a spit hood and had a Taser pointed at her during a “distressing” police encounter in Peckham.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the incident – which allegedly left the woman with “cuts and bruises”.
A Met Police officer has been suspended and has lost his right to use a Taser. Five other officers have been placed on restricted duties meaning they don’t interact with the public.
The woman was never arrested and taken to King’s College Hospital.
MP for Camberwell and Peckham Harriet Harman, who has been working with the woman’s family, said the incident was “worrying”.
She has called for police to stop using Tasers on the elderly.
Southwark Police Commander Seb Adjei-Addoh said there were “questions that need to be answered”.
According to the Met Police, officers were called to an address following reports of a disturbance between a woman and her carer on Tuesday, May 9.
A police spokesperson said: “Officers attended and identified a 91-year-old lady who was distressed.
“After officers attempted to engage with her, she was restrained using handcuffs and a spit hood applied after it was alleged one officer was spat at.
“During the course of the incident, an officer issued a red-dot challenge with their Taser but did not discharge it.”
The IOPC began its investigation on May 17. It has received a complaint from a member of the public about “the level of force” used and injuries the woman reportedly sustained to her wrists and arm.
MP for Camberwell and Peckham Harriet Harman, who has been working with the woman’s family, said: “When Tasers were first introduced I don’t think any of us thought that they would be used on elderly women suffering from dementia. And I think what we need now is proper guidance on not using Tasers on the elderly.”
The MP highlighted a recent case in Australia where a 95-year-old woman died after being Tasered at a care home.
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The spit hood placed on the woman in Peckham has also caused some consternation.
The hoods are mesh breathable sacks placed on people to prevent them from biting or spitting.
Not all police forces use them and campaign group Liberty has previously described them as “cruel and degrading”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, who is in charge of policing in Southwark, said: “There are limits to what I am able to say in relation to this incident given it is now subject to an IOPC investigation, however it is clear that this will have been a distressing experience for the lady involved and that the circumstances raise a number of questions that need to be answered.
“While I do not wish to pre-judge this process, officers know that they must be able to justify any use of force or restraint and we will expect that of the officers involved in this incident. They also know that we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach in real time according to the circumstances they are faced with.
“I am committed to transparency in relation to this incident. I am already in contact with our key partners and will keep them, and those directly involved, informed as our enquiries progress.”