Use of Force Data
We are committed to being an open and transparent force and this use of force data is published to provide an insight into what being a police officer involves and the challenges they face.
Officers are trained to use force proportionately, lawfully and only when absolutely necessary.
This information will help improve the understanding of use of force and will help shape the tactics used and the training of officers.
Use of Force 1 October 2020 - 31 December 2020
In the 3 months between October 2020 and December 2020 there were 558 records of incidents where force was used. Each officer that has used force in an incident should record the force used, and as a result one incident could result in several records for one subject.
Use of force Q3 2020-2021 [213.47KB]
Incident location
Officers record the location of the incident, the most frequent location is the custody block (35% of records), followed by a street/highway (26% of records).
| Incident location | Number of |
| records |
| Custody Block | 193 |
| Street / Highway | 145 |
| Dwelling | 103 |
| Open Ground (e.g. park, car-park, field) | 62 |
| Other | 22 |
| Police vehicle with prisoner handling cage | 7 |
| Police vehicle without prisoner handling cage | 6 |
| Retail premises | 5 |
| Hospital / A and E (non mental health setting) | 5 |
| Police station (exclduing custody block) | 4 |
| Public Transport | 2 |
| Licenced Premises | 2 |
| Mental Health Setting | 1 |
| Ambulance | 1 |
Impact Factor
The factors that are likely to have an impact on the need for an officer to use force are recorded. Any number of impact factors could be recorded against each incident. The most frequently recorded impact factor is alcohol, this is followed by mental health.
| Impact factor | Number of |
| records |
| Alcohol | 262 |
| Drugs | 171 |
| Mental Health | 158 |
| Size/gender/build | 142 |
| Prior Knowledge | 136 |
| Impact Factor : Other | 85 |
| Possession of weapons | 32 |
| Acute Behaviourial Disorder | 28 |
| Crowd | 5 |
Reason for Force
There may be multiple reasons for the use of force in each incident. The most frequently stated reason recorded by officers/staff for using force is to protect themselves (21% of records) followed by protecting other officers (21% of records) and effecting arrest (20% of records).
| Reason for force | Number of |
| records |
| Protect Self | 318 |
| Protect other officers | 299 |
| Effect Arrest | 260 |
| Prevent Escape | 198 |
| Protect Subject | 184 |
| Effect Search | 156 |
| Protect Public | 89 |
Tactic used
Officers record the different tactics they use in each record, there are occasions where the initial tactics are not successful so further tactics are required.
| Force Used | Number of |
| records |
| Physical restraint inc Non compliant handcuffing | 378 |
| Compliant handcuffing | 163 |
| Tactical communications | 94 |
| Physical strike | 49 |
| Taser | 41 |
| Restraint accoutrement | 41 |
| Irritant spray (police issue) | 24 |
| Other | 16 |
| Spit guard | 8 |
| Baton | 5 |
| Police dog | 3 |
Subject details
Officers/staff record the details of the subject, based on their perceptions of the individuals age, gender, ethnicity and disability.
| Police Physically Injured | Number of |
| records |
| No | 433 |
| No record | 109 |
| Yes | 45 |
| | |
| | |
| People data refers to unique individuals | |
| Gender | Number of |
| records |
| Male | 486 |
| Female | 101 |
| Not given | 0 |
| Total | 587 |
| | |
| | |
| Subject Injured as a result of Force Used | Number of |
| records |
| No | 445 |
| No record | 44 |
| Unclear | 49 |
| Yes | 49 |
| | |
| Self Defined Race | Number of |
| records |
| Asian (or Asian British) | 4 |
| Black (or Black British) | 22 |
| Chinese | 0 |
| Don't Know | 74 |
| Mixed | 5 |
| Other | 2 |
| White | 370 |
| No record | 110 |
| Grand Total | 587 |
| | |
| Age | Number of |
| records |
| under 11 years | 0 |
| 11 - 17 years | 77 |
| 18 - 34 years | 312 |
| 35 - 49 years | 138 |
| 50 - 64 years | 55 |
| 65 and over | 5 |
| Grand Total | 587 |
