POLICE regulators have launched an investigation after a “distressed” 91-year-old woman was handcuffed, covered with a spit hood and had a taser pointed at her.

The pensioner suffered cuts and bruises in what human rights group Liberty said was “just the latest in a litany of episodes that show the police simply cannot be trusted with the powers that they have.”

The incident happened when officers were called to the unnamed woman’s home in Peckham in south-east London on May 9. She was taken to hospital.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating and one Metropolitan Police officer has been suspended.

Liberty policy and campaigns manager Emmanuelle Andrews said: “We all deserve to live in caring communities where we are treated fairly by the people around us – but far too many people, particularly black people and people of colour, are being harmed by heavy-handed and violent policing.

“Whether it’s a 91-year-old woman being handcuffed, placed in a spit hood and threatened with a taser, or a 15-year-old schoolgirl strip searched at school on her period, it’s clear that the misuse and abuse of power by the police is inflicting deep and lasting damage on people and communities.

“We must remove the powers the police continue to abuse to ensure no-one else has to experience this kind of traumatic and degrading treatment.”

The IOPC investigation began on May 17.

An IOPC representative said: “We have received a public complaint concerning the level of force that was used and the injuries it is alleged the woman sustained, including cuts and bruising on both her wrists and one arm.”

A spit hood is a mesh hood placed over the head of a person to prevent them from spitting or biting. Their use has been criticised for potentially breaching human rights guidelines.