West Mercia Police officers discharged a firearm twice, used a Taser eight times and two people were bitten by a police dog between April and June 2017. These figures were released on Tuesday, September 5th, as part of West Mercia Police use of force figures.

The figures cover tactics such as officers taking hold of someone’s arm, using handcuffs, deploying a police dog and using a baton, irritant spray, Taser or firearm.

Police officers respond to thousands of incidents each day and, West Mercia Police say that the figures show that the vast majority (98%) are resolved without requiring these techniques or any form of conflict.

Where use of force actions are taken each officer attending the incident completes a record of their actions. Therefore, there may be more than one record linked to the same incident. Equally, multiple incidents involving the same person will be recorded separately.

The most recorded use of force tactic across the West Mercia Police area between April and June this year was unarmed skills – which includes actions such as taking physical hold of someone and holding someone on the ground. The second most used was handcuffing.

The Home Office has asked for this inforation to be made available and the figures will be released on the West Mercia Police website quarterly to provide greater transparency into how and why force is used; strengthening the vital relationship between the police and the public that is at the heart of policing by consent.

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