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| Met using force against disproportionately large number of black people | Met using force against disproportionately large number of black people |
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| Scotland Yard officers have used force against a disproportionately large number of black people in recent months. Official figures released on Tuesday showed that the number of people of every other ethnic group against whom force was used was relatively low. | |
| Men were overwhelmingly more likely to be on the receiving end, particularly those aged between 18 and 34. The data also showed that officers were injured 643 times when using force against members of the public, regardless of ethnicity, age or sex. | |
| “Our officers face the most dangerous situations every day. It is important we give them the right training and equipment to do the job,” said commander Matt Twist. | “Our officers face the most dangerous situations every day. It is important we give them the right training and equipment to do the job,” said commander Matt Twist. |
| Twist, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman on restraint and self-defence, added: “Use of force techniques are there to stop violence and danger, protecting not only the officer making an arrest but also the public at the scene, and the person being arrested. | Twist, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesman on restraint and self-defence, added: “Use of force techniques are there to stop violence and danger, protecting not only the officer making an arrest but also the public at the scene, and the person being arrested. |
| According to the Met’s data, 36% of the 12,605 uses of force in the three months to the end of June involved people who self-identified as black or black-British, while those groups account for only about 13% of London’s population. | According to the Met’s data, 36% of the 12,605 uses of force in the three months to the end of June involved people who self-identified as black or black-British, while those groups account for only about 13% of London’s population. |
| White people, on the other hand, form about 57% of the capital’s population, but were involved in only 45% of the incidences of use of force. About 10% more of the cases referenced people who self-identified as Asian; a group that makes up about 18% of the city. | White people, on the other hand, form about 57% of the capital’s population, but were involved in only 45% of the incidences of use of force. About 10% more of the cases referenced people who self-identified as Asian; a group that makes up about 18% of the city. |
| Scotland Yard published the figures in line with the Home Office’s annual data review requirements. The data cover the full months of April, May and June and include “tactics available to officers from taking hold of someone’s arm, handcuffing a person who appears compliant, deploying a police dog, using a baton, CS spray, Taser or a firearm”. | Scotland Yard published the figures in line with the Home Office’s annual data review requirements. The data cover the full months of April, May and June and include “tactics available to officers from taking hold of someone’s arm, handcuffing a person who appears compliant, deploying a police dog, using a baton, CS spray, Taser or a firearm”. |
| The vast majority – more than 85% – were against men. The Met said that nearly 14% of people against whom force was used were believed to have mental health issues. | The vast majority – more than 85% – were against men. The Met said that nearly 14% of people against whom force was used were believed to have mental health issues. |
| According to Scotland Yard, the most reported tactic was handcuffing a compliant person, while spit guards, which are being trialled across London, were used 25 times in the three-month period. | According to Scotland Yard, the most reported tactic was handcuffing a compliant person, while spit guards, which are being trialled across London, were used 25 times in the three-month period. |
| “One of the more serious use of force techniques is Taser. Records show it was fired in only 10.5% of cases where it was deployed, so in 89.5% of cases over this time period it was used but not fired, demonstrating how effective a tactic it is at defusing potentially volatile situations and reducing the need for further use of force techniques.” | “One of the more serious use of force techniques is Taser. Records show it was fired in only 10.5% of cases where it was deployed, so in 89.5% of cases over this time period it was used but not fired, demonstrating how effective a tactic it is at defusing potentially volatile situations and reducing the need for further use of force techniques.” |
| Twist said: “It is really important to note that this first three-month period is very early data and not comparable against anything else. It will take time for us to ensure officers comply with filling out this form after every use-of-force interaction becomes routine or second nature. | Twist said: “It is really important to note that this first three-month period is very early data and not comparable against anything else. It will take time for us to ensure officers comply with filling out this form after every use-of-force interaction becomes routine or second nature. |
| “We know that there will be instances of force used in this period which have not been recorded, but having scrutinised the data, we have already seen a steady increase in online recording. We have been training officers on the new form through officer safety training and briefings.” | “We know that there will be instances of force used in this period which have not been recorded, but having scrutinised the data, we have already seen a steady increase in online recording. We have been training officers on the new form through officer safety training and briefings.” |