A MAN who was using a machete to threaten police officers and harm himself was shot down with plastic bullets in Elstead last week.

The incident happened after police were called to an address in the village by a woman shortly after 11pm on Wednesday last week.

She reported the 32-year-old man, John Reid, as being in an extremely distressed state.

Mr Reid was armed with a long-bladed knife which he was threatening to use to cut himself across the throat.

Specialist firearm police officers entered the house and challenged the man several times to disarm himself.

The police say he repeatedly failed to respond to these requests and then acted in a threatening manner towards them.

Three baton rounds of plastic bullets were then fired which hit Mr Reid and left him incapacitated.

He was immediately arrested and taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford.

After being discharged quickly, he was taken to Woking police station where he was questioned and charged.

"As with all cases involving baton rounds, the circumstances surrounding the arrest will be fully investigated," a spokesman for Surrey police said.

"The case was voluntarily referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission who have now decided that this case can be investigated locally. All Surrey Police officers involved are specially trained firearms officers who provide a dedicated 24-hour service."

He continued: "Their extensive training includes the use of the less lethal option of baton rounds, which was what was used in this case."

"These rounds have become available in recent years and provide police with an option that did not previously exist.

"They are only used when there is an immediate threat of loss of life or serious injury."

Mr Reid was later charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court on Friday last week and was released on conditional bail despite an appeal by Surrey Police to remand him in custody.

He is next due to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court on September 17.

The use of plastic bullets was introduced to the Surrey Police Force in December 2001.

Since then they have been used in Surrey on three occasions. Surrey is one of the first forces to carry the weapons actively. The force has sufficient baton guns to equip up to three armed-response vehicle crews.

The baton round is designed to reduce the chance of people being killed by conventional rounds.

The bullet travels at 70 metres per second, and the weapon has an operating range of up to 30 metres. It is hoped that baton guns will also reduce the stress and trauma to officers by the risk of causing a fatal injury.

Including the discharge in Surrey, there have been 11 occasions throughout England and Wales where baton rounds have been used since April 1 this year.