Use of Force

Officers are required to report any use of force beyond handcuffing and basic physical control techniques.

Officers’ reports are reviewed by their commanding officer, training officers and Force Review Officer. These reviews help ensure force is being used properly, and only when necessary and in a reasonable and proportionate manner. They also help us refine our training to respond to emerging trends.

During 2021, CPS officers arrested and charged 23,831 people for criminal offences and entered into more than 555,000 interactions with the public overall. Reportable force was used in 901 of these cases to safely control a person who was resistive or violent towards others, officers or themselves. This translates into force being used in less than one in every 617 public interactions.