Police officer who Tasered her own race relations officer is charged

A police officer who Tasered her own force’s race relations adviser will appear in court after being charged with assault.

PC Claire Boddie, 47, was filmed apparently shooting Judah Adunbi, who works with Avon and Somerset Police, in the face with a Taser gun in January this year.

An onlooker recorded an eight-minute video of the incident, which went viral, and led to the ‘Justice for Judah’ campaign being launched.

At the time, Mr Adunbi, 63, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, but charges were dropped just two days later.

After the incident, the chairman of the local police federation branch said the police were “doing what the public expect of them”.

The officer Tasered Mr Adunbi, who is a grandfather of three, in the Easton neighbourhood of Bristol after mistaking him for a wanted man.

PC Boddie will appear before magistrates in Taunton, Somerset, accused of common assault on August 14.

A spokesman for the IPCC said: “An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation concluded in June and a file of evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

“The CPS decided there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge the officer.

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“The IPCC began an investigation after the police force voluntarily referred a complaint about the incident, during which a 63-year-old man was Tasered.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “The IPCC has confirmed that one officer will face a criminal charge of assault following an incident involving a 63-year-old man in Bristol in January.

“Now criminal proceedings have started, this prevents us from commenting further on the circumstances surrounding this matter, other than to reiterate that we’re continuing to fully cooperate with the IPCC as their investigation progresses.

“Chief Constable Andy Marsh has made clear from the start of this investigation that we will discuss the matter fully and publicly once the investigation has concluded.”