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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

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-use-of-taser-x26-conducted-energy-devices-statistics-england-and-wales-1-january-to-31-december-2016-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/

 

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