PSNI use force against children aged 12 and under 56 times in one year

Stock photograph of PNSI logo against a brick wall
-Credit:Niall Carson/PA Wire


The PSNI used force on 56 children aged 12 or under, including the use of spit and bite guards and threatening to use a baton.

A police report into the use of force by officers from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, has shown that there were 18,148 incidents where police had to use force, which was a decrease of around 11% on the year before when there were 20,484.

During the period all types of use of force decreased, except for the use of spit and bite guards and attenuating energy projectiles (AEDs) which saw increased use.

Read more: Man, 20, arrested after officers 'assaulted' during drug search

Read more: Ex Sinn Féin press officer convicted of sex offences may have seen misuse of public money

The two most common uses of force used by officers over the course of the year were 'unarmed physical tactics' with 10,951, reports of its use, and Handcuffs/limb restraints with 5,446 uses.

ADVERTISEMENT

There were 1,078 cases where force was used against children aged 17 or younger, including 56 cases where force was used against a child aged 12 and under. This includes at least one case where a baton was drawn, but not used, against a child and at least one case of a spit and bite guard being used.

The age group involved in the most use of force incidents was 25 to 34, with 5,396 cases, followed by 35-44 with 3,389.

Force was used on males in 83% of all cases.

Local/Neighbourhood policing officers were found to have used force at a significantly higher rate than other officers with 13,779 reports. This includes drawing and using a baton on a person 66 times, using irritant spray 220 times and 8,335 cases of unarmed physical tactics.

Force was used 9,107 during a criminal incident, 2,338 in a domestic setting, 1,841 in custody, 1,497 in a public order setting, 622 in a traffic setting and 52 times in a terrorism related incident.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Belfast area had the most recorded uses of force by police with 6,438 reports, followed by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon with 2,161 and Derry City and Strabane with 2,020 reports.

The area with the lowest number of reports of use of force is Causeway Coast and Glens with 600.

The primary reason for officers using force over the course of the year was to "protect self" with this being cited in 81% of cases followed by protect other officers in 79% of cases.

It was used in 62% of cases to effect and arrest and in 58% of cases it was to prevent an offence. Force was used to protect the public in 41% of cases and property in 15%.

Chief Superintendent Amanda Ford of the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Operational Support Department, said: “The most common reason for our officers using force, as evidenced in this report, is to protect themselves during the course of their duty and safeguard the public from harm.

“Currently the law allows the police to use reasonable force when necessary in order to carry out their role of law enforcement provided such force is lawful, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.

“Policing is a job with great personal risk, which is shown by the rise in assaults on our officers and staff. Officers often step into the unknown, placing their lives at risk and working to protect others.

“We are increasingly being called upon to address calls for concern and safety in relation to vulnerable people. Our work around Right Care Right Person will help to ensure that the right agency is called to deal with people in need or crisis.

“It should also be noted that in the vast majority of cases where force is used, unarmed physical tactics are more regularly used when faced with a risk to life of the officer or a member of the public. Equipping officers with a range of techniques, including spit-and-bite guards and irritant spray, gives us the ability to effectively disrupt aggressors in challenging circumstances, using the least amount of force possible. We also use deployment of specialist officers such as armed response unit or dog call signs to minimise the recourse to use of force through appropriately trained tactics.

“However, when it is necessary and proportionate for an officer to use another tactic including Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP), this is subject to careful scrutiny and accountability, both in response to incidents and during public safety scenarios. Incidents are reported to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland with Use of Force incidents recorded and supplied to the Policing Board, the Police Service’s Service Accountability Panel (SAP) and available to the public.

"As a Police Service, we are determined to keep people safe in often difficult and dangerous situations and we invest in training and equipping our people to appropriate standards to be able to do this."

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.