1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Your city, your news now, Sydney's one oh one point 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,319 Speaker 1: seven Wsfair. 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 2: THO, good afternoon. I'm Sean Fraser. Police affronted the media 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 2: after a ninety five year old woman was tasered in 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: a nursing home in Couma. The elderly resident, who suffers 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 2: from dementia, was apparently holding a steak knife when she 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 2: was stopped by police yesterday. She fell and hit her 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: head and remains in a critical condition. Assistant Commissioner Peter 9 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: Kotta explaining what he's seen on the body worn camera. 10 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 3: The police and a number of staff, both paramedics and 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 3: otherwise engaged in conversation with her to de escalate the matter, 12 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 3: for her to drop the knife, and that went on 13 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 3: in a conversation for a number of minutes. I'm not 14 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 3: going to talk about the exact words used, but the 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 3: words were clear to de escalate the matter. Claire approached 16 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 3: the doorway where the police were and at that stage 17 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 3: the officer discharged the taser. I want to highlight, personally 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 3: and on behalf of the organization, the care and the 19 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 3: empathy and the sympathy we feel for the Nolan family. 20 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 3: Clear Noland, as we know, a ninety five year old 21 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 3: lady and resident of a nursing home in Kerma, but 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 3: of course her legacy is a number of children and grandchildren. 23 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 3: We feel for all her family. We have been in 24 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: contact on the ground they're at Cooma with our officers, 25 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 3: our senior police, who have been with the family and 26 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 3: been at the equally at the bedside of Claire since Wednesday, 27 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 3: liaising with the family, talking to them, talking to them 28 00:01:54,320 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 3: candidly about what has occurred and what we know. As 29 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 3: a senior member of the organization and on behalf of 30 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 3: the Commissioner of Police, I've also spoken with one of 31 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 3: the daughters who was essentially the spokesperson on behalf of 32 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 3: the family. We have extended again our sympathy and our 33 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 3: concern for what they've gone through over the last couple 34 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 3: of days and Claire's health. I've ensured them that an investigation, 35 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: an independent investigation, is underway and that we the police, 36 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 3: treat this matter with extreme significance. On Wednesday morning, the seventeenth, 37 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 3: police were called to the nursing home in Koma. The 38 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: coll was along the lines of one of the patients, 39 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 3: Claire having a knife in her possession. Paramedics responded, Police responded, 40 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 3: and Claire was located within the nursing home facility. At 41 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 3: the time. She was in a room. She did have 42 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 3: a knife in her hand, and it is fair to 43 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: say that she was armed with that knife. The knife 44 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: in question was a steak knife, a serrated edge knife 45 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 3: that she had obtained from the kitchen area of the 46 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 3: nursing home a couple of hours earlier. Negotiations commenced with 47 00:03:54,560 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 3: Claire to essentially drop the knife. For whatever reasons, Claire 48 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 3: did not do that. One of the police officers who responded, 49 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:19,840 Speaker 3: a senior constable, activated his taser, which struck Claire, whereby 50 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 3: she fell to the ground, striking her head. Immediate medical 51 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 3: care and attention was delivered to Claire by the nursing 52 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 3: staff and the paramedics and also the officers involved. As 53 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 3: a result of that injury to her head, she was 54 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 3: taken to the Kuma District Hospital, which is where she 55 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 3: remains today. It is equally fair to say that she 56 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 3: is in a state of ill health. It is she's 57 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 3: a ninety five year old lady who suffers from some 58 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 3: of the general frailties of that age. But the injury 59 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 3: that she suffered as a result of hitting her head 60 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 3: on the floor has rendered her bed ridden. At the moment, 61 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 3: I'm not in a position to talk about her diagnosis 62 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 3: or essentially her prognosis, except to say that she remains 63 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 3: in a critical condition and her family an extended family, 64 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 3: surround her and have done since about midday on Wednesday. 65 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 3: There are significant concerns clearly for her health and where 66 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 3: that may lead. Following on from that specific incident, an 67 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 3: investigation was commenced, as is the norm when during a 68 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: police operation or a police response and someone who is injured, 69 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 3: whether that be a member of the public, whether it 70 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: be the police themselves, or whether it be an offender 71 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 3: or per perhaps in this case Claire, an investigation is 72 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 3: commenced and that's called a critical incident investigation. Given what 73 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 3: was before us at mid day on Wednesday, this investigation 74 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 3: was nominated as a Level one critical incident. The criteria 75 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 3: for a Level one critical incident classification is that an 76 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: injury that leads to death or imminent death and with 77 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: exceptional circumstances attached to it, leads it to be classified 78 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 3: in the highest level of investigation that we can do 79 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 3: internally around a matter. The policies state that in a 80 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 3: Level one critical incident. The Homicide Squad are involved, and 81 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: that is because of their independence both geographically and also 82 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 3: geographically to the Southern Region and obviously to Kuma, but 83 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 3: also their specialist skill sets in dealing with protracted, complicated 84 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: and complex legal matters that surround potentially coronial investigations or 85 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 3: clearly deaths as a result of homicide, and there are 86 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 3: internal protocols and policies which have long been entrenched. That 87 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 3: investigation commenced, as I said upon its declaration midday on Wednesday, 88 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 3: and continues today and will continue on. As a result 89 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 3: of that, numerous people will be spoken to witnesses, both 90 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 3: family those present. The police statements will be taken. An 91 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 3: investigation will be ultimately reviewed by the Professional Standards Command 92 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 3: of the New South Wales Police Force, with clearly oversight 93 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 3: by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission of New South Wales. 94 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 3: As we meet here today, the status or the health 95 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 3: of Claire is that she still remains in hospital. She 96 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 3: remains in and out of consciousness. Her family are with us, 97 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: She is comfortable, but I'm not privy to talk any 98 00:08:54,920 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 3: more about her absolute health diagnosis or prognosis. On behalf 99 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 3: of the family who we have spoken to today. They 100 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 3: literally don't want to say too much. They don't want 101 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: to say too much through me as a conveyor of 102 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 3: any message, and equally they don't want to say too 103 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 3: much personally to the press. What they have asked of 104 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 3: us is to express on behalf of them that if 105 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: they could be left alone to attend to their mother, grandmother, 106 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 3: and because her health and their sadness at the stage, 107 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 3: to be fair, is their main concern, So we asked 108 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 3: that the media just give them a little bit, a 109 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 3: little bit of time to understand their situation and deal 110 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 3: with clayers. I'm happy to take questions from the group 111 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 3: if you wish. 112 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: When you heard that one of your officers had tasered 113 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: a ninety five year old woman with dementia in a 114 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: nursing home, what was your reaction. 115 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 3: The reasons why we carry weapons equipment that we do 116 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: is clearly to defend ourselves, principally the the principles of 117 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 3: self defense. Defend yourself from harm or hurt or potential death, equally, 118 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 3: protect your colleague, your work colleague, and to protect members 119 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 3: of the public. And each of the pieces of equipment 120 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 3: that we hold or carry have a significance, and I 121 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 3: suppose are a trigger or conditions that authorize their use. 122 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 3: If I speak about tases per se and not specifically 123 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 3: about this incident. The rules are governed that you can 124 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 3: use your taser as a police officer, and again it's 125 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 3: very subjective to the threat that's facing you at that time, 126 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 3: So we can't talk too much specifically about the incident, 127 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 3: but generally we say it is there as a piece 128 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 3: of equipment to defend yourself when you think your life 129 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: is a danger or someone else's life is a danger, 130 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 3: where you have a genuine fear and threat of being 131 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 3: physically overpowered, where there's a violent confrontation occurring. But of 132 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 3: course that has those facts have to be real. 133 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 4: His onement was five foot two and she was forty 134 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 4: tern healers. 135 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 3: Just on the face of it, do you think that 136 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 3: the officers were at risk of being the power? Again, subjectively, 137 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: I can't transport transport myself into the mind of the 138 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 3: actual officer officers. What I can say is that this 139 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: is a very live and very serious investigation of which 140 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 3: the homicide squad is investigating, and in the rights to 141 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 3: everyone involved this, the investigation process has to how many 142 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 3: users carry on. Sorry, how many experienced did the police officers? 143 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 3: They are in their early teens of experience. The officer 144 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 3: involved specifically has around about twelve years experience. 145 00:12:57,200 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: Can you understand the public outrage? And again, I would 146 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 1: like you know your reaction to a ninety five year 147 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: old woman being tasted. It seems unfathomable that she could 148 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: have presented such a threat of life to officers or 149 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: anyone else. 150 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 5: With a stag night. 151 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 3: The response of the organization has been consistent since Wednesday. 152 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 3: I think all of our opinion around it, whether it 153 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 3: be whether it be a personal opinion or a professional opinion, 154 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 3: you know, is a matter for concern. We are concerned 155 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 3: about the matter. That's why we've commenced the investigation we have. 156 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: We have spoken about it in the upper echelons of 157 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 3: this organization. I'm sure it's discussed at every level across 158 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 3: this organization. We are very concerned about what occurred the 159 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 3: other day and that's why we have the investigation alive 160 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 3: that we have at the moment. 161 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 6: Just ask please, it is that officer still on duty 162 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 6: or has been moved from duty, and what is going 163 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 6: to have Is there an action to be had in 164 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 6: terms of his current standing. 165 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 3: Well, clearly his duty type will be under review, understanding 166 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 3: that this is a live investigation and he has the 167 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 3: opportunity to be spoken to and be interviewed. If at 168 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 3: some stage we believe interaction has to be taken, then 169 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 3: it will be taken. At this stage, he's non operational, 170 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 3: he's not in the workplace, and any ultimate sanction, if 171 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 3: that is the determined and end result, that will be taken. 172 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 4: And police, while we can footage that family have been 173 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 4: told out footage is parting. Have you seen that footage? 174 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 3: I have seen the footage. You are correct. Both officers 175 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: had their body worn video activated in the incident in 176 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 3: totality is captured, both audio and visual, and I have 177 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 3: seen it and I and I understand what I've seen. 178 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 4: Do you agree that it's printing footage? 179 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 3: It is confronting footage. Were you released on Were you 180 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 3: released that food wage to the public. No, it forms 181 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 3: a significant an integral part of the investigation and it 182 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 3: is not in the public interest to be releasing that 183 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: and it please please. 184 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 4: Escalation topics between time to negotiate kind of dropping that 185 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 4: and deploying the taper. 186 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 3: The police and a number of staff both paramedics and 187 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 3: otherwise engaged in conversation with her to de escalate the 188 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 3: matter for her to drop the knife, and that went 189 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 3: on in a conversation for a number of minutes. I'm 190 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 3: not going to talk about the exact words used, but 191 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 3: the words were, we're clear to d to de escalate 192 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 3: the matter clear approached the doorway where the police were, 193 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 3: and at that stage the officer, the one officer discharged 194 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: the taser. 195 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: Just to clarify, was it in her room or a room? 196 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 3: It was in a room. She had left her her 197 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: her bedroom and had walked around the nursing home facility. 198 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 3: I'm not sure for exactly how long, but probably for 199 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 3: a couple of hours. She was out of her bed, 200 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 3: she'd gone to the kitchen, she'd accessed the knife, and 201 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 3: she was a in a treatment room. I think it's 202 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 3: classified as so we're medical treatment, a small confined space 203 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 3: room where treatment would be normally administered during working hours, 204 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 3: and she was in that room by herself. 205 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 6: Usually in AHVA times when doing what you make your 206 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 6: suffers there. 207 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 4: Old streets was placed on certain patients where they gatting 208 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 4: access to knives of sharpie striments that they made sort 209 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,119 Speaker 4: of others. Do we understand and why in this particular 210 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 4: setting that was that access to a knife. 211 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 3: That's a matter for the health facility, the age care 212 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 3: facility themselves to address those questions. Really pertinent, really relevant. However, 213 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 3: we're not cheating home, any blame to anyone around this 214 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 3: other than the incident that occurred. The New Southwest Police 215 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 3: Force owned this incident and that's why we're investigating it. 216 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 3: And the question you asked around accessibility to a knife 217 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 3: or any other part of the nursing home will definitely 218 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 3: form part of the investigation and clearly potential recommendations to 219 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 3: age care facilities in general. 220 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 4: Stood down. 221 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 3: For the bigger pun, how long will the opposite not 222 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 3: be working for he is through procedural faness, he is 223 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 3: to be to be interviewed. He's not in the workplace 224 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: at the moment. That'll be reviewed consistently and constantly as 225 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 3: we progress through this investigation. 226 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 5: Do you think police would. 227 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: Have been more transparent over the last two days. Initially 228 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: we've got a statement there was no mention of times place, 229 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: no taser. Yet we've got a very detailed statement just 230 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: a couple of hours ago, more than two and a 231 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: half days after the incident. 232 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, we've been working closely with the family. We've 233 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 3: been understanding their wishes, we've been understanding our legal position 234 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 3: with the officers involved. We've been carrying out the investigation collectively. 235 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 3: We've determined this morning to be the most appropriate time 236 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 3: to release more information and do this very stand up. 237 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 4: Can you confirm if ambulance officers had actually been there 238 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 4: for some time or police arrived and were police coming 239 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 4: from somewhere else the day took. 240 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 6: A longer time to get there. 241 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 3: Yeah. I haven't got the exact chronology, but my understanding 242 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 3: is the ambulance paramedics arrived first. Police had to be 243 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 3: recalled to duty to attend this incident. So perhaps that 244 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 3: ex explains. 245 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 4: I do you like that you had gone home for 246 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 4: the day. 247 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 3: Yes, Koumra is not twenty four hour plustation. So yes, 248 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 3: people were were called into duty. 249 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 4: And so how long were Ambula's officers there by themselves dealing. 250 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 3: With their You know, I I don't know. I'm not, 251 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 3: as I said, I'm not intimate with the absolute investigation. 252 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 3: That's not my role to do that. As I said, 253 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 3: others are doing that independently. They were certainly there a 254 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 3: time beforehand, and they are engaging in conversation with Claire 255 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 3: to my understanding, but I can't give it exact timeframe. 256 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 4: Could yourself as a base criminal charges. 257 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 3: I'm not going to answer that question for very very 258 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,919 Speaker 3: very obvious reasons. Why are the reasons well, the procedural 259 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 3: fairness to the officer this l Let me answer it 260 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 3: this way. Clearly, officers in any general sense, any member 261 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 3: the public, any member of emergency services, any member of 262 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 3: the police force, is not above the law. Our actions, 263 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 3: whatever we do and wherever we do it, are always 264 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 3: under review. If a threshold is met where it changes 265 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 3: from being a departmental issue into a criminal issue. We 266 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 3: are certainly mature enough and transparent enough as an organization 267 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 3: to do what has to be done. 268 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 4: Since this isn't above the law. 269 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 7: But you might answer the question of whether he could 270 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 7: face criminal charges. 271 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 3: I have answered the question for you. I'm not the investigator, 272 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 3: and I'm not in a position to talk about whether 273 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 3: this officer will or will not face criminal charges. What 274 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 3: I've said is that no officer, not one of us, 275 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,879 Speaker 3: is above the law, and all our actions will be 276 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 3: scrutinized robustly and from a criminal perspective as well as 277 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 3: a departmental perspective, and if it tips into either of 278 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 3: those domains, you can be rest assured that if it 279 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 3: lands there, and I'm talking in a generic sense, then 280 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 3: criminal actions will be taken not but I'm not going 281 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 3: to talk about this specific officer. 282 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 6: I understand it was clear in inside the room at 283 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 6: the time herself or was. 284 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 3: There another resident? Now Claire was in the room where 285 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 3: the tasering happened. She was in the room by herself. 286 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 3: Why amparently have not sad with some ideas of answering 287 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 3: questions today? I am here as a senior representative of 288 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 3: the organization. I'm an assistant commissioner, and that duty force 289 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 3: to me today. 290 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 7: Do you know if the police have been called business 291 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 7: home previously to deal with residents issues? 292 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 3: I'm not I'm not really sure on that that honestly, 293 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 3: I d I don't know. Do you'd know the. 294 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: Resident is now the history of general bindlence or. 295 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, furnish that question I think of h Look, I'm 296 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 3: not in a position to talk about Claire's medical history. Clearly, 297 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 3: I have no authority on behalf of the family to 298 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 3: talk about what she may or may not have done 299 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:30,719 Speaker 3: in her later years. She is a ninety five year 300 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 3: old lady, a f a frail lady, a much loved 301 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 3: lady who's a resident of a nursing home, who is 302 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 3: receiving the care that she needs. M somewhere along this 303 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,199 Speaker 3: journey that was interrupted the other evening. But I'm not 304 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 3: privy to to pull apart what Claire has has done 305 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:51,280 Speaker 3: in the past. 306 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 5: Can you say if she was actually engaged in you 307 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 5: a threat at the time. 308 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 3: That she was chased, At the time she was tasered, 309 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 3: she was approaching police, but it is fair to say 310 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 3: at at a slow pace. She had a walking frame, 311 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 3: but she had a knife. I can't take it any 312 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 3: further as to the what was going through anyone's mind 313 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 3: when the use of the taser. That is for them 314 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:28,399 Speaker 3: to talk to. 315 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 7: Last question, what uh the potention charges this officer could face. 316 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 3: I'm not going to answer that. 317 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 7: Just in terms of the initial information that was put 318 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 7: out to media, you know, I mean, Emma's already kind 319 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 7: of asked this, but but it was very, very brief 320 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 7: and did not really uh contain like basic facts. 321 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 3: Of of what's occurred. 322 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 5: But I think police would have at least had some 323 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,479 Speaker 5: of those basic facts at hand. Is there any reason 324 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 5: why that can't that that couldn't be conveyed to the 325 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 5: media at that point. 326 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 3: I don't, I don't. I understand your question, and I 327 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,199 Speaker 3: thank you for it, and I equally thank you for 328 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 3: your question about criminal charges. I know where you're going 329 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 3: with it. But in absolute fairness, do everyone involved here. 330 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 3: I'm not going to talk about this specific officer and 331 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 3: any criminal charges, So let me just soften soften that 332 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 3: one for you. But but I I but please don't 333 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 3: ask it again because I I I think I'm clear 334 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 3: on it. To your question, please and thank you for it. 335 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 3: Critical incidents are are a matter that we're always transparent on. 336 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 3: If if we are hurt or or we hurt someone 337 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 3: during the course of a duties, we are always on 338 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 3: the front foot to put out a statement. We have 339 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 3: to be very sure before we put out all the 340 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 3: specific details. We sometimes have to let time and investigation 341 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 3: informness of our better and best position before we put 342 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 3: out all of the material. And in fairness, that's why 343 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 3: we're here today. We've had the time to deal with 344 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 3: the family, We've had the time to review the matter, 345 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 3: We've put the proper investigators in place, and in a 346 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 3: general sense, we have a much better informed today to 347 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 3: give an honest and transparent and open position of what 348 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 3: occurred on that early morning a couple of days ago, 349 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 3: and being a confident and legal and sensible position to 350 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 3: talk to what's happening right now and what's going to 351 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 3: happen in the future. Charged the I will answer that, 352 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 3: thank you, that the thank you for that question. The 353 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 3: the taser was discharged once, and that's absolutely a fact. 354 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: How many officers do it? 355 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 3: How many police officers responded? There are two? 356 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: Thank you very much. 357 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it.