CS spray usage by States of Jersey Police since 2010 (FOI)

​​Request

I would like to make the following request to the States of Jersey Police under the
Freedom of Information Law:

• since 2010, how many times has CS spray been used by police officers (broken down into years please)?
• please can you detail the incidents where CS spray was used?
• how many offenders required medical treatment after being sprayed?
• how many police officers required medical attention after deploying CS spray?
• how many complaints have been made to the force about the use of CS spray?
• how many of these have been upheld?
• have any of these complaints led to disciplinary procedures or further training?

Response

The Police (Force) Medical examiner (FME) is not routinely called to every prisoner who has been sprayed. Each case is assessed individually.

No police officers have required medical attention as a result of deploying CS spray.

Only one prisoner has required further medical treatment after being sprayed however, this was as a result of injury whilst violently resisting arrest.

One complaint has been received during the period stated. The male threatened officers with a crow bar and was eventually arrested after being sprayed twice. It required a second spray to subdue the male as he refused to surrender the weapon. The officers concerned were given operational words of advice and further training. All officers receive further training annually in the use of their personal protection equipment.

All cases of CS spray deployment involve the use or offer of violence towards police, other members of the public or to the individual (self-harm).

Specific cases involve:

• domestic violence
• daughter threatening mother with a knife
• mother and son arguing, son armed himself with a knife on police arrival
• hoover thrown down stairs (by husband) at police at a domestic between husband and wife
• male holding meat cleaver to girlfriend’s throat

Other weapons used to confront police include a baseball bat, an axe, multiple knife events, short and long scaffold poles. Weapons have been used in threats to self-harm including knives and accelerant (aerosol) and matches.

Most cases involve groups or individuals fighting in the streets, some with weapons. The use of CS spray allows a lone officer to intervene without putting themselves at risk.

The lack of reported injuries to both officers and offenders provides compelling evidence as to the effectiveness of CS spray as both a deterrent and an effective restraining tool. Offenders who have been previously sprayed, tend to comply with an officer’s instructions if they come to notice again and are confronted with CS spray.