The Metropolitan Police has settled out of court. This resolves a case involving an 84-year-old man. His name is Roy Morton. He is a retired ballet dancer. Police shot him with a Taser during a botched raid. The incident occurred in December 2021. It happened at his home in Cricklewood, north London. Morton lives alone. He has a pacemaker. Officers forced entry into his home. They were searching for a Black man in his 20s. This suspect was linked to a firearms incident. However, police went to the wrong address. A call handler error caused the mistake. The force later acknowledged this error. Morton was stunned by a Taser. He was then restrained and handcuffed. He was also arrested for affray. This occurred while he was wearing pyjamas. He was holding a wooden doorstop. Bodycam footage captured the event. Officers entered dark rooms with guns drawn. They shone torches at Mr. Morton. They shouted commands. Mr. Morton shielded his eyes. He was then Tasered at close range. He fell heavily backwards. Officers pinned him to the floor. He was detained for 11 hours. This lengthy detention included a transfer to a hospital. Doctors were concerned about his pacemaker. It was only after arriving at the custody suite that officers determined it was a case of mistaken identity. This conclusion came late in the day. Morton was released without further action. He stated the ordeal diminished him. He lost his sense of safety at home. He felt physically and mentally diminished. He felt as if he had aged overnight. His legal claim cited negligence. It also included assault, battery, and false imprisonment. Breaches of his Article 8 rights were also alleged. These rights relate to private life. The case was due for trial soon. The Met Police agreed to settle. They did not admit liability. An internal Met investigation found no misconduct. However, the force has since apologized. DCS Neil Smithson offered a “wholehearted apology.” He acknowledged the incident’s impact. He also recognized the time taken to reach a resolution. The Met stated they reviewed the circumstances. They implemented new training procedures. This training targets call handlers. It aims to prevent similar events. The settlement comes as trending news highlights other police settlements. These cases often involve use of force issues. This news is popular in London. It raises questions about police procedures. Such incidents fuel broader discussions. These discussions concern police accountability. They also touch on the use of Tasers. This news forms part of ongoing public debate about policing.
Met Police Settles With Elderly Man Tasered in Bungled London Raid
