Plymouth Taser officer cleared of misconduct

Following a disciplinary panel on Friday, March 6, 2015, it has been ruled that a police officer involved in a Taser deployment which resulted in a fatality will have no further action taken against him by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Andrew Pimlott died following the incident in Honicknowle, Plymouth, on April 19, 2013.

Two police officers were called to the Honicknowle property following an emergency call. The caller advised that Mr Pimlott, 32, was in the garden with a can of flammable liquid.

Shortly after the police arrived, Mr Pimlott sustained serious burn injuries following the discharging of a Taser by the police constable. Mr Pimlott was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and subsequently transferred to the burns unit at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. He died in hospital on April 23, 2013,from his injuries.

Devon and Cornwall Police mandatorily referred his death to the IPCC and an independent investigation was undertaken. The outcome of this investigation remains outstanding. In October 2014 the CPS decided no criminal prosecution would take place in relation to the incident.

Following a disciplinary hearing the PC concerned was found to have no case to answer in relation to an allegation of gross misconduct.

Deputy Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “This has been a long and difficult period for both Mr. Pimlott’s family and the officer and our condolences remain with the Pimlott family.

“The internal disciplinary process has given us the opportunity to further examine what happened on that night in April 2013.

“The matter was referred to the IPCC and the Force has fully supported them in their independent investigation.”

He added: “Any officer using Taser is subject to extensive training, and we should not under-estimate the challenging circumstances police officers face in their line of duty. Difficult decisions sometimes need to be made in highly pressured situations.

“We will continue to support and train our officers to use Taser appropriately and safely in line with national guidance.”