Shooting of axe-wielding woman in Edinburgh '˜necessary', watchdog finds
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The 48-year-old was hit with a baton round after running towards officers and a member of the public at Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh in March.
Police had been called hours earlier by a man who said he had been chased into woods by the woman carrying the axe.
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Hide AdThe Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) said in a report published today that the police response had been proportionate.
The woman was struck on the thigh with a the plastic bullet, temporarily disabling her and enabling officers to remove the axe and arrest her.
All incidents involving a firearm are referred to the Pirc as a matter of course.
In its report, the watchdog said: “The incident began at 12.25pm when a member of the public telephoned Police Scotland to report that the woman had chased him in the woods of Craigmillar Castle armed with an axe.
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Hide Ad“Police officers quickly attended at the scene and contained the woman and the surrounding area.
“Over the course of the next six hours a number of police officers and a friend of the woman unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate with her to surrender the axe.
“These attempts all met with further threats from her. When the woman ran towards officers and a member of the public apparently intent on striking them with the axe, the armed officer discharged the baton round. She was arrested and later charged with a number of offences.”