Metropolitan Police defends officers after suspect tasered and dogs shot dead

The Metropolitan Police have defended their officers after a suspect was tasered and two dogs shot dead in front of screaming witnesses.

Footage released to social media showed officers chasing a man holding the two dogs on a short leash along a canal in Limehouse, east London, on Sunday afternoon.

The situation then seemed to get heated as the man was tasered to the ground and the animals were shot.

Commenting on the incident, police said officers had “a duty to act where necessary before further injury is caused”.

In a statement, the force said: “Police were called to a woman who was being attacked by a dog at Commercial Road, E14, just after 5pm on Sunday 7 May.

“Officials visited the location where the aggressive behavior of two dogs caused significant concern and posed a significant threat to them.

“A man has been arrested in connection with the incident for dangerously out of control and assaulting a dog. He was taken into police custody.

“A taser was fired by the police.”

The statement continued: “No person was taken to the hospital. Both dogs were destroyed by police at the scene.

“This is never an easy decision for an officer to make, but the police have a duty to act, if necessary, before further injury is caused.

“The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will review the circumstances of the incident.”