Police urge public not to speculate after man tasered

Police have urged the public to "only share factual information" after videos circulated on social media showing a man being Tasered near Leicester's Clock Tower.

Leicestershire Police has addressed online speculation around the incident, which happened on Saturday (May 17). Officers were called to East Gates, near the Clock Tower, over concerns for

the welfare of a man who "may be in possession of a knife". A force spokesperson said police located the 27-year-old man, who said he had a knife in his waistband. In video footage

of the incident seen by LeicestershireLive, officers can be seen talking with the man before discharging a Taser. Shoppers and young children were in the area at the time, and shouts and

screams were heard as the situation unfolded. READ MORE: Man found stabbed in Leicester car park - two arrested on suspicion of attempted murder A police spokeswoman said today (Tuesday, May

20) that the man was asked to comply with officers' instructions, but refused. She added: "In the interests of public and officer safety[,] officers discharged a Conductive Energy

Device (Taser) to assist in detaining the man". The spokeswoman said the man was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to a place of safety, where he remains. He was not

arrested, she added. "Inquiries are ongoing into the incident and the circumstances," the spokeswoman said. "We would ask that people do not speculate about the nature of the

incident and only share factual information." "There is no investigation into the use of the Taser during this incident," she added. WHAT IS A TASER? A Taser is a bright

yellow, hand-held electronic device used by specially trained officers to deal with violent or dangerous individuals at a distance. It delivers an electrical current that temporarily

incapacitates a person. Extensive medical and scientific testing was carried out before Tasers were approved for police use. The device is typically carried in a holster attached to an

officer’s body armour and is one of several tools available to help keep both officers and the public safe. Its distinct design ensures it is easily visible and identifiable. The use of

Tasers by Leicestershire Police has risen sharply, with the devices drawn 875 times in a 12-month period, according to the latest figures. In 2017, Tasers were drawn just 242 times, but this

nearly quadrupled by 2020. Forces can now issue Tasers to unpaid special constables as well as regular officers to help tackle knife crime and terrorism. Source: Home

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