Use of force

A use of force incident is defined by government as a situation in which a police officer uses any of the following force tactics on a single individual:

Restraint tactics:

• handcuffing (compliant or non-compliant)
• limb and or body restraints
• ground restraint
• unarmed skills

This includes distraction strikes with hands and feet and pressure point and joint locks to help restrain individuals.

Use of other equipment:

• baton (including where it was drawn but not used)
• irritant spray (including where it was drawn but not used)
• spit and bite guard
• shield (e.g. individual struck or pushed with a shield)

Less lethal weapons:

• conducted energy device (CED, e.g. TASER®), including where it was used with being discharged (drive stun, fired, angled drive-stun) or used without being discharged (drawn, aimed, red-dot, arced)
• attenuating energy projectile (AEP) (including whether it was drawn but not used, or used)

Firearms:

• this refers to the use of conventional firearms, including where the firearm was aimed or fired

Other:

• use of dogs (including where a dog was deployed but did not come into contact with (i.e. bite) the individual)
• other and/or improvised

Use of force data is collected on a national basis by all police forces as required by the National Police Chiefs Council. South Yorkshire Police are recording all instances of force, ranging from the compliant use of handcuffs through to the use of taser and firearms.

The recording of the use of force will enable us to understand fully how often tactics are used and to ensure all use is proportionate and necessary in the circumstances to ensure we command the confidence of our communities. You can find our local Use of Force data at the bottom of this webpage.

In order to hold our officers to account, there are several layers of scrutiny within South Yorkshire Police for our use of force. This enables us to ensure we maintain high standards and challenge any poor practice when it is encountered, taking operational learning where it is required.

The four levels of scrutiny are as follows:

• A use of force form is completed by every officer, every time they use force. Each form is checked by a supervisor and signed off.
  
  
• Internal dip sampling processes randomly select a number of forms per month. These forms are reviewed including the body worn video of the officers by representatives in each district. The reviews are formally recorded.
  
  
• Internal scrutiny panels are held monthly where officers of all ranks and members of police staff meet and review a number of randomly selected Use of Force forms. The body worn video is also reviewed with the form and the review is formally recorded. Individual feedback is provided to officers and supervisors in addition to group discussion.
  
  
• External scrutiny panels are held monthly where members of the public meet and review a number of randomly selected sue of force forms. The body worn video is also reviewed with the form and the review is formally recorded. Individual feedback is provided to officers and supervisors as well as group discussion.

Panel members look through actual incidents which include a use of force tactic being implemented, and why and how these powers were used. If you would like to join the external use of force scrutiny panel, please fill in our application form.

More information about use of force is available on the links below:

• College of Policing use of force guidelines
• Home Office ‘user guide’ to reading use of force statistics
• Latest Home Office use of force statistics