Use of Force 2020/21 Q3

Only 9% of incidents which took place in October to December 2020 involved Use of Force.

• Total number of incidents: 42,109
• Number of Uses of Force recorded: 3,791

How did we use force during this time period?

Types of Use of Force used:

• Unarmed skills/physical restraint used: 1,846
• Compliant handcuffing: 1,494
• Non-compliant handcuffing: 1,040
• Ground restraint: 663
• Limb/body restraints: 309
• Taser: 287
• Other/improvised: 277
• Spit guard: 145
• Irritant spray – drawn: 139
• Irritant spray – used: 138
• Baton drawn: 39
• Baton used: 25

Comparison to national statistics

Restraint tactics:

• National: 62%
• Avon and Somerset: 54%

Unarmed skills:

• National: 22%
• Avon and Somerset: 28%

Less lethal weapons:

• National: 5%
• Avon and Somerset: 5%

Other equipment:

• National: 4%
• Avon and Somerset: 8%

Other tactics:

• National: 4%
• Avon and Somerset: 4%

Firearms:

• National: 0.5%
• Avon and Somerset: 0%

Statistical breakdown of data

Gender of subject:

• 2976 Male
• 794 Female
• 14 Transgender

Ethnicity of subject:

• 78% White
• 8% Black
• 3% Mixed heritage
• 1% Asian
• 1% Somalian
• 9% Other

Body worn video:

• 88% of the time

Officer threatened:

• 79% No
• 21% Yes

Taser use per month 2020

Taser use per month:

• January: 85
• February: 92
• March: 112
• April: 98
• May: 132
• June: 108
• July: 105
• August: 110
• September: 115
• October: 92
• November: 95
• December: 92