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Deaths and serious injury as a result of police use of firearms and less lethal weapons

Background

The IPCC aims to increase levels of public confidence in the police complaints system and in the work of the IPCC in relation to the police use of firearms and less lethal weapons. We are focusing in particular on incidents that result in a death or serious injury. Less lethal weapons include Conducted Energy Devices (Taser) and the use of baton rounds.

What is the IPCC doing?

By monitoring our investigations, casework and guardianship work in relation to police use of firearms and less lethal weapons the IPCC seeks to:

Understand concerns about the police use of firearms and less lethal weapons.
Respond to any learning, recommendations or feedback, using these to improve and inform both our future work and the development of the police complaints system.
Engage with representative organisations and groups to hear their views about police use of firearms and less lethal weapons and the experiences of people who have made complaints, or have been involved in investigations, about their use.

Current work

Firearms

All fatal shootings by the police are independently investigated by the IPCC.

The IPCC is represented on the ACPO Armed Police Working Group and through this forum is seeking better collaborative working, particularly in relation to post-incident procedures and management following fatal shootings.

Less lethal weapons

The IPCC continues to monitor the use of Taser by the police service. This follows the introduction on 1 June 2009 of additional criteria for the police service to refer all complaints about the use of Taser to the IPCC.

The IPCC is represented on the ACPO Conducted Energy Devices Working Group – a multi-agency committee that reviews the use of such devices. This provides a platform for the IPCC to influence how Taser is used by providing feedback, recommendations or concerns about the use of Taser from our oversight of police complaints.

Useful links

Tasers. - IPCC report on cases involving the use of Taser® between 1 April 2004 and 30 September 2008. The report was published on 24 November 2008.