A POLICE officer's decision to discharge a Taser at an 11-year-old boy at Craig Tara Holiday Park was "proportionate", according to the findings of an investigation.

During the incident on March 22, 2023, a specially trained officer fired the incapacitating device at the child whilst he was threatening officers with a blade.

The mother of the youngster later insisted he was "only armed with a butter knife".

The claim came after the mum said that he lashed out because he was throwing a tantrum about not being allowed a Burger King.

Footage shared online showed a young boy holding a knife in his hand, pointing it towards police officers.

He was told to put the knife down by officers as they approached him.

The incident, in which nobody was injured, was referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

During the probe, PIRC investigators obtained and reviewed statements from civilian, medical and police witnesses.

They examined mobile telephone footage, briefing papers, reports, documentation, telephone calls and police communications.

The report said: "About 11.15pm, Police Scotland received a 999 call from the mother of an 11-year-old young male reporting that he was trying to smash windows in their rented caravan.

"Whilst en route to the incident, officers received an update from their control room that the 11-year-old was in possession of a knife and threatening to stab family members and members of the public.

"The officers traced the young male, who was in possession of a large kitchen knife which he refused to surrender.

"He repeatedly threatened to stab the officers and pointed the knife towards them while walking backwards and away from them.

"A specially trained officer (STO) pointed his Taser at the young male, aiming red dots on his body whilst issuing verbal warnings of the effects of a discharge on him.

"The STO attempted to engage him in conversation along with other officers, repeatedly instructing him to drop the knife but he repeatedly refused to comply and backed away from the officers while swearing at them.

"The STO continued aiming his Taser at the young male, who backed away onto a steep grass embankment out of the lit area into the darkness of a large area of grass.

"He changed the position of the blade so that it pointed down from his pinkie finger which was interpreted by the STO as a 'warning sign' for an imminent attack.

"Discounting other tactical options including the use of PAVA due to the windy conditions and the use of a baton due to the necessity of maintaining a safe distance, and taking account of the risk of harm or injury posed by the young male to the officers and members of the public, the STO discharged his Taser.

"This took effect on the young male who fell to the ground and was quickly taken under control."

The investigation found that despite the age of the boy, his behaviour "demonstrated that he was a viable threat to the public".

Investigators also added that the actions taken were "proportionate" in the circumstances to mitigate the risk to the youth and the wider public.