Use of force data
Every day Humberside Police respond to hundreds of incidents and calls across our communities in urban and rural settings. The vast majority of these matters are resolved peacefully. However, on occasion it will be necessary for our officers to exercise use of force to uphold the law and keep the public or themselves safe from harm.
Officers are authorised to use force in specified circumstances. They are trained in the use of force and will face numerous circumstances during their duties where the use of force is appropriate. However, the use of force must have a lawful objective such as the prevention of injury to others or damage to property, or the effecting of a lawful arrest.
Responsibility for the use of force rests with the officer exercising that force. Officers must be able to show that the use of force was lawful, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances. Using handcuffs, for example, may not always be a necessary or proportionate response.
It is important to recognise that each use of force incident involves a unique set of circumstances, with the officer's decision making based on a variety of factors. The circumstances and considerations should be continually reassessed using the National Decision Making Model to achieve this.
When using force officers are governed by the following legislation:
- Section 117 PACE 1984 (when an arrest is made force may be used)
- Section 3 Criminal Law Act 1967 (officers may use reasonable force in the circumstances to prevent crime)
- Common Law (an officer may use force to protect themselves or another)
- Human Rights Act 1998 (force must always be proportionate, legal, officers are accountable and it must have been necessary)
All police forces are required to ensure that their officers complete a use of force form whenever they use force against a person. This is to ensure that that there is increased transparency which will better enable individual uses of force to be placed in context, and provide greater reassurance amongst the public that force, when used, is proportionate, lawful, accountable and necessary in the circumstances. It will also assist in identifying instances where this is not the case.
Officers record all use of force, whilst not a fully exhaustive list, use of force will include:
- unarmed skills including holding or restraining the person
- drawing or using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (asp baton/Taser/incapacitant spray
- use of handcuffs; and at the highest end, a threat or use of lethal force
The information that can be extracted from these forms can flag up training and officer safety issues. Additionally, all use of force data is provided to the Home Office on an annual basis to allow for monitoring and statistical review.
Officers are trained to use to force proportionately, lawfully and only when absolutely necessary and in accordance with the principles of the use of force, available from the College of Policing.
How will Humberside Police use this data?
Access to this data will give us a wealth of information that will help us to compare the effectiveness of different techniques enabling more informed, evidence-based decisions about training, tactics and equipment that officers may need to make any improvements in safeguarding the public and protecting our officers.
The Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has established an independent scrutiny group to monitor the use of force by officers and other staff. People from a wide variety of backgrounds and areas within the force area take part in the scrutiny group. They ask questions on behalf of the communities served by the force. Independent oversight of the force’s processes is a huge benefit for the force and community confidence.
Members of the scrutiny group:
- have witnessed scenario training provided to officers;
- attend the Humberside Police use of force monitoring group meetings;
- regularly review records completed when force is used and view video material taken of incidents; and
- request briefings about initiatives and incidents that attract public attention
The scrutiny group provides positive support for the force’s openness, leadership, training, processes and monitoring arrangements to ensure the lawful, appropriate and proportionate use of force by Humberside Police officers and staff.
The high level of scrutiny undertaken by the Use of Force Scrutiny Group has provided assurance that the Use of Force within Humberside Police is being used fairly, with justification and proportionately.
We welcome feedback or questions that you may have on the use of force within Humberside Police.
The Police Powers Group
The Police Powers Group is an independent group formed to consider the application of the use force within Humberside Police. The group aims to inspire transparency, increase public confidence in the police and provide learning. The group considers individual cases to assess and scrutinise use of force and identify areas of concern and good practice.
The group meets quarterly to review our use of force records. Random dip-samples will take place and the group will then meet to look at the appropriateness of the use of force used.
By examining records and body worn video footage, they will provide feedback to the force, highlighting any areas of concern or good practice.
In addition to the independent external scrutiny of the use of force we also have a Use of Force Monitoring Group consisting of key members of the force who monitor use of force data to review whether it is used fairly and proportionately and in accordance with the values and behaviours contained with our Plan on a Page.
Message from The Police Powers Scrutiny Panel Chair, Mr Mark Lewindon
I assumed responsibility as chair of the Police Powers Scrutiny Group in 2021. As a new member of the group, whilst I was aware of the remit and responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner, I had little knowledge of the groups working practices. I quickly recognised that the group’s focus was limited to individual uses of power, whether stop and search or use of force.
From the outset I have worked to raise the focus of scrutiny to consider how the force operates rather than individuals. The aims of scrutiny should be to challenge and where appropriate, support the force. This requires that lay members of the group have a better understanding of how officers are led and trained so that they can ask informed questions. To achieve this we have
- Reviewed force policies on stop and search and use of force;
- Sought access to training of officers in key skills so that panel members can influence;
- Secured information to understand how police powers are used across the force (data); and
- Provided a forum to seek information, on behalf of communities, about high profile incidences of stop and search or uses of force that have attracted public attention.
What has gone well
- The force has allowed access for lay members to attend internal meetings overseeing the use of police powers;
- The force has allowed access for panel members to attend training events;
- The force is now providing detailed information about the use of powers across the force including trends;
- Challenged the force on how it is dealing with major concerns about police behaviour including misogyny;
- Scrutiny on targeted use of stop and search and deployment of passive drugs detection dogs has led to the force reviewing its use of the tactic;
- Concerns about the use of a tactic without resorting to arrest where individuals are pushed to remove them has led to a change in training;
- My last meeting as chair saw a great improvement in numbers and profile..
What needs to improve
- OPCC needs to be more robust with HMICFRS. HMICFRS staff were allowed to comment on the Scrutiny Group practices. This is beyond the organisation’s remit;
- Access to BWV for incidences where force has been used has not been consistent;
- Whilst the force has been transparent in allowing access to its training and internal oversight (key leaders have stated that it can happen) it has not yet been completed, the force and OPCC have provided suitable dates and process is now established to support attendance and members will be able to attend future dates identified;
- The OPCC need to attract lay members from more communities affected by policing. There appears disproportionate representation from the East Riding and other affluent areas and groups. There should be greater representation from minorities and communities from deprived areas. Vetting and exposure are challenges that are difficult to overcome.
You can make a complaint about the police online using our form or in person, generally to an Inspector who will act as the initial investigating officer and discuss with you the nature of your complaint and record it as appropriate.