Use of Firearms 2015-2019
Date of request: 28 July 2020
Reference: 752/21
Request
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, please could you provide me details of the number of times a firearm has been drawn by a police officer?
Of those occasions, which type of firearm was drawn, and how many times a firearm was discharged by a police officer?
Please provide this information for the following years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
Response
Under section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968 an electric shock device is considered a firearm. We have therefore provided Taser detail in this disclosure.
Firearms:
| Financial year | Firearm used | Aimed | Fired / Discharged |
| 2015/16 | Carbine G36 | 1 | |
| Launcher | 7 | ||
| Shotgun | 7 | ||
| Self Loading Pistol | 6 | ||
| Sum: | 8 | 13 | |
| 2016/17 | Carbine G36 | 5 | 2 |
| Carbine MP5 | 1 | ||
| Launcher | 2 | ||
| Rifle | 1 | ||
| Shotgun | 6 | ||
| Self Loading Pistol | 1 | 10 | |
| Sum: | 9 | 19 | |
| 2017/18 | Carbine G36 | 11 | |
| Launcher | 4 | 1 | |
| Shotgun | 12 | ||
| Self Loading Pistol | 4 | 7 | |
| Sum: | 19 | 20 |
Please note, the use of firearms is not solely against people, they may also be used in the destruction of dangerous animals and prevention of continued pain and harm.
The information you have requested regarding firearms for calendar years 2018/19 and 2019/20 can be found on our website here:
https://staging.avonandsomerset.police.uk/about/our-priorities/use-of-force/
Please note, Avon and Somerset Constabulary introduced a new recording system in April 2018 for firearms usage, this systems does not record the type of firearm used. Therefore this information is not available for this time frame.
Tasers:
Taser usage information for 2015 and 2016 can be found on the Home Office website on the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-use-of-taser-statistics-england-and-wales-1-january-to-31-december-2015-data-tables
| Financial year | Aimed | Drawn | Fired |
| 2017/18 | 415 | 586 | 74 |
| 2018/19 | 524 | 684 | 99 |
| 2019/20 | 57 | 155 | 166 |
Please find further Taser information including detailed definitions on our website here: https://staging.avonandsomerset.police.uk/about/our-priorities/taser-statistics/