Appeal For Police Body Cameras After Atkinson Taser Death

5 September 2016, 17:27 | Updated: 5 September 2016, 17:28

Every police officer carrying a weapon must wear a body camera following the death of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson in Shropshire, ministers have been told.

Conservative Lucy Allan raised the case of the former Aston Villa favourite as she pressed the Government to take action to ensure officers armed with Tasers should wear the technology.

The Telford MP said such action would protect both the police and public.

Mr Atkinson, 48, died after he was tasered in Telford, Shropshire, on August 15.

It emerged that the officers involved, from West Mercia Police, were not equipped with body-worn video.

Mr Atkinson's family has since called for all Taser-equipped officers to be issued with bodycams as standard.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Allan told Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis: ``Tragically ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson recently died outside his father's house in my constituency following the deployment of Tasers by the police.

``The officers involved were not wearing bodycams. Do you agree that all police carrying any sort of weapon should wear bodycams to protect both police and public?''

Policing Minister Mr Lewis replied: ``You raise a tragic situation.

``The loss of any life is obviously tragic and the deployment of body-worn video is an operational matter for the police but I hope you'll appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further given there is an ongoing IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) investigation ahead of the coroner's inquest.''