News

The family of a 90-year-old Black woman with Dementia - who was red dotted with a taser, handcuffed and forced to wear a spit hood during a mental health crisis - has welcomed misconduct proceedings against several officers from the Metropolitan Police.

In a powerful statement, the family said:

“This was not just a failure - it was a deeply disturbing act of cruelty against a then 90-year-old woman, frail and living with dementia, who was confused and in a mental health crisis. She needed gentle words, care, and compassion. Instead, she was treated like a threat, red dotted with a taser, surrounded, handcuffed, and forced into a spit hood for a prolonged period.

Our hearts are broken. We live with the unbearable image of her, scared and alone, not understanding why she was being treated this way. It is unthinkable that anyone, let alone a vulnerable 90-year-old woman, so in need of care should be treated with such cruelty and indignity. We would not wish this trauma on any other family.

Those entrusted with protecting the public must never abuse their powers, least of all when dealing with society’s most vulnerable, and this cannot be allowed to continue.

Our family welcomes these misconduct proceedings, but this is just the beginning. The public must demand answers, demand accountability, and demand real change in how the police treat the most vulnerable people in our communities. This is not just about justice for one woman - this is about protecting all of us. We speak out not only for justice, but in the hope that this leads to meaningful change in how police support those in mental health crisis.

We ask that the press and public respect her health, privacy, and dignity at this time.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that three Metropolitan Police officers will face gross misconduct hearings in connection with the incident, which occurred on 9 May 2023 in Peckham, south London.

The incident, which is the subject of an ongoing investigation, involved the use of a Taser device aimed at the elderly woman, who was then handcuffed and placed in a spit hood by officers before being transported to hospital, secured to a gurney in an ambulance.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors Action Against Public Authorities team continues to represent the woman’s family in this matter.

For all media enquiries, please contact the Marketing team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors via email at Marketing@duncanlewis.com.

Graeme Rothwell assists a wide variety of clients, many of whom are vulnerable, following negative experiences at the hands of the state. He regularly represents bereaved family members throughout inquest proceedings, assists in making complaints, and brings civil actions against the police, the prison service, and other government departments. He can also advise in relation to the mishandling of personal information, discrimination and breaches of legislation designed to protect basic human rights.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Our Actions Against Public Authorities department is expert in holding public authorities to account when they abuse their powers, fail to observe their professional obligations, or otherwise actunlawfully. The team has supported a wide range of clients affected by failures or misconduct by state bodies and regularly represents bereaved families in inquest proceedings.