Use of Force 2020/21 Q4

Only 9% of incidents which took place in January to March 2021 involved Use of Force.

• Total number of incidents: 43,172
• Number of Uses of Force recorded: 4,138

How did we use force during this time period?

Types of Use of Force used:

• Unarmed skills/physical restraint used: 1,953
• Compliant handcuffing: 1,521
• Non-compliant handcuffing: 1,126
• Ground restraint: 729
• Limb/body restraints: 279
• Taser: 340
• Other/improvised: 301
• Spit guard: 120
• Irritant spray – drawn: 138
• Irritant spray – used: 109
• Baton drawn: 71
• Baton used: 55

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: 6%

Other equipment:

• National: 4%
• Avon and Somerset: 7%

Other tactics:

• National: 4%
• Avon and Somerset: 5%

Firearms:

• National: 1%
• Avon and Somerset: 0.5%

Statistical breakdown of data

Gender of subject:

• 3,182 Male
• 905 Female
• 22 Transgender

Ethnicity of subject:

• 85% White
• 9% Black
• 2% Mixed heritage
• 2% Asian
• 1% Somalian
• 1% Other

Body worn video:

• 90% of the time

Officer threatened:

• 80% No
• 20% Yes

Taser use per month 2020/21

Taser use per month:

• April 2020: 98
• May 2020: 132
• June 2020: 108
• July 2020: 105
• August 2020: 110
• September 2020: 115
• October 2020: 92
• November 2020: 95
• December 2020: 92
• January 2021: 118
• February 2021: 116
• March 2021: 117