Campaigners warned of a "disturbing trend" over fatalities from police confrontations as investigations were launched into a man's death in Bolton following a Taser shooting.

The 53-year-old, named locally as Philip Hulmes, was hit with electric probes from the police weapon after barricading himself in his house yesterday.

The incident came as an inquiry was launched by the police watchdog into the death of Jacob Michael, 25, who was restrained using pepper spray in Widnes, Merseyside.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is also probing how bodybuilder Dale Burns, 27, died after being Tasered several times at his flat in Cumbria.

Campaign group Inquest said there had already been five deaths in circumstances that involved police use of force excluding firearms this year - compared with four throughout 2010.

Helen Shaw, a spokeswoman for the organisation, said: "The shocking reports about three tragic deaths in eight days following the use of force by police highlights Inquest's growing concern about deaths following contact with the police."

The IPCC has been called in to investigate Mr Hulmes's death.

read more