Youth worker shot by police with stun gun wins assault case

A black youth worker who was shot with a Taser electrical weapon while standing with his arms folded during a road stop has won an appeal for damages from City of London police.

- Emily Dugan

The court of appeal ruled that the police used unlawful force against Edwin Afriyie, 38, after he was pulled over while driving home in 2018.

In a judgment published yesterday, Lord Justice Davis said Afriyie's civil claim for assault and battery should have been allowed because "the use of a Taser was not objectively reasonable in the circumstances".

Officers at the scene had claimed in written statements that Afriyie had adopted a "fighting stance" before being stunned. Body-worn footage showed him standing a distance from officers with his arms folded when the Taser weapon was discharged.

Afriyie told the Guardian: "I'm so happy that justice has finally prevailed. I'm still in shock and I'm grateful to the judges and the courts for doing the right thing. I hope that people who have gone through - and will go through - similar situations with the police will now have the courage to fight for justice.