Taser used on self-harming woman

POLICE at Lismore used a Taser on a 19-year-old woman after being told the woman was harming herself.

Six officers responded to a call to a Lismore home, where the young woman was reportedly cutting herself with a scalpel.

A spokesman for NSW Police said one of the officers used the Taser once on the woman in an effort to stop her from hurting herself or one of the six officers on the scene.

"The Taser was used in this circumstance as per guidelines and prevented the 19-year-old female from causing further injury to herself and significant injury to the police that were involved," the spokesman said.

Through the use of the Taser, a potentially dangerous situation was resolved effectively and quickly.

Richmond Local Area Command duty officer Inspector Matt Kehoe has told ABC radio police used the Taser after attempts to negotiate with the young woman failed and her efforts at cutting herself intensified.

"The Tasers are used quite infrequently and they're only used in situations where there is a risk of significant harm to members of the public, if there's weapons involved, or if there's risk of significant harm to police and I think this incident on Friday night certainly ticked all of those boxes," he said.

The woman was treated by paramedics on site and then transferred to Lismore Base Hospital.

She was assessed and later released from the hospital. 

Topics:  mental health, police, taser