Avon and Somerset police officer charged after allegedly tasering force's own race relations adviser

PC Claire Boddie allegedly tasered Judah Adunbi after mistaking him for a wanted man in Easton on 14 January

A neighbour recorded the exchange in Easton in January (Screenshot)

A female police officer has been charged with assault over claims she tasered her force’s own race relations adviser in the face.

Avon and Somerset Police PC Claire Boddie allegedly tasered Judah Adunbi after mistaking him for a wanted man in Easton on 14 January.

The 63-year-old, who is a founding member of the force's local Independent Advisory Group that aims to strengthen relations between police and the African-Caribbean community, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and later charged, but the charges were dropped two days later.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) began an investigation into the incident after the force voluntarily referred a complaint.

The IPCC referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June, and they decided there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge the officer.

The 47-year-old officer will appear at Taunton Magistrates Court on 14 August to face a charge of common assault contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

An IPCC spokesman said: "An 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."