Police tasered teenager with special needs

Devon and Cornwall Police have tasered a teenage boy with special learning needs at Chelfham Senior School in Bere Alston, near Tavistock.

Police were called to the school grounds around 9pm on December 1 after an alleged assault on a teacher involving three teenage boys.

Two 14-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy were involved in the incident.Devon and Cornwall police have confirmed that  a taser was used in their arrest

The boys will appear in Plymouth Magistrates court on December 20 to face a joint charge of affray.

The victim of the alleged assault was taken to Derriford Hospital to be treated for chest and head injuries.

Tasers were cleared for use against children in the UK in 2007 and the most recent figures from 2011 show that they had been used  on children 323 times in a year.

Chelfham Senior School is a Priory Group school that specialises in teaching children with learning difficulties including behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and autism.

The school’s Ofsted report in 2012 praised the teaching of students and said that the overall welfare, health and safety of pupils was outstanding

The report states: “During their time at Chelfham, students grow considerably in their self-confidence and self-esteem, and are excellently prepared for the next stage of their lives.”

The school is also a children’s home and many of the students live at the school for much of the year.

Tasers were cleared for use against children in the UK in 2007 and the most recent figures from 2011 show that they had been used  on children 323 times in a year.