This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A chief constable has expressed regret over an incident in which an officer shot a race relations adviser in the face with a stun gun after mistaking him for a wanted man.

Andy Marsh said the shooting ofJudah Adunbi, a community elder and grandfather also known as Ras Judah, last year in Bristol had a profound impact on Avon and Somerset police and a series of changes had been made.

The chief constable was speaking as Claire Boddie, the officer who fired the stun gun at Adunbi, was cleared of misconduct following a two-day hearing.

A panel accepted she had genuinely mistaken Adunbi for a potentially violent man who had been trying to flee, meaning the force she used was reasonable.

Adunbi, who believes he would not have been shot if he were white British, will now take civil proceedings against the police.

Marsh said: “I’d like to recognise the significant impact this incident has had on Judah Adunbi and regret the distress he’s experienced.

“This was a very difficult situation and I clearly wish it had never happened. It’s always regretful when cases of genuine mistaken identity occur and we’ll take all the necessary steps to make sure this doesn’t happen.

“The initial incident, subsequent court case and misconduct proceedings have had a profound impact on all of us.”

The incident caused tension in Easton, one of Bristol’s most diverse neighbourhoods.

“Police and communities must continue to work in unity to create strong, positive and progressive neighbourhoods,” Marsh said.

“I don’t underestimate the importance of the principle of policing by consent. We need and want the public to trust us so our officers and staff can use the powers available to them to keep people safe.”

Avon and Somerset police are:

Commissioning an independent review of the force’s approach to stun gun use, which is being carried out by another police force.

Issuing body-worn video cameras to all frontline officers to improve transparency and accountability.

Publishing data online about the use of force – including stun guns.

Explaining to community leaders how stun guns work and why the force uses them.

The incident took place last year outside Adunbi’s house in Easton. A video taken by a passerby was shared widely on social media and made headlines around the world.

Footage from the passerby and the officers’ bodycams was played during the misconduct hearing and showed Boddie and her colleague, Darren Weston, approaching Adunbi and asking for his name.

Boddie told Adunbi: “You look familiar.” Adunbi refused to say who he was, informing the officers: “I’m not telling you my name, I’ve done no wrong. I’m an African black individual living in my own city.”

There was a scuffle between Adunbi and Weston at his gate. The footage appeared to show Adunbi moving away with his hands at his side when the Taser electrical weapon was discharged by Boddie at close range.

Adunbi fell to the ground after he was shot and told the officers: “I’m nearly 70 … here’s my fucking ID.”

The hearing was told people hit with stun guns felt “a sensation of intense pain”. The barb from the weapon was removed in hospital.

After the the hearing, Adunbi’s lawyer, Tony Murphy, of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, said: “The video footage of Ras Judah being Tasered in the face without warning whilst walking his dog has shocked the world.”

He said Adunbi had been allowed “limited involvement” in the disciplinary proceedings. “Ras Judah now looks forward to the civil proceedings he has instituted against Avon and Somerset constabulary, in which he will play a full and active part, in his search for justice,” he said.

Samir Soddougii of the charity Stand Against Racism & Inequality said: “Ras Judah has always been clear that he would not have been treated in this way had he been white British and that the force used on him was because he is black and Rastafarian.

“He has supported these proceedings because he believes in policing by consent and in fair treatment for all.

“The international concern caused by an unarmed black grandfather being Tasered in the face without warning whilst walking his dog, by a white police officer, underlines the importance of all police forces prioritising race equality, cultural competence and anti-discrimination and bias practices and training.”

Boddie did not comment after the hearing.