Use and complaints of PAVA spray by the MPS from 2016 to 2021
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.022728
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. I would like to know how many times Met police officers have used PAVA spray on someone in the years from 2016 to 2021.
2. I would like it broken down by year, so I would like the data for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
I would also like to know how many complaints were made about the use of PAVA spray during that period, again broken down by year.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 21(1) - Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant by other means
Reason for decision
In supplying this information to you I have claimed a Section 21 exemption of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The information requested has been identified as being accessible via other means as it is already published. Where information is already in the public domain we are not required to re-publish the data; instead public authorities are required to direct you to the information, which we have done in this instance.
Disclosure
Q1 - I would like to know how many times Met police officers have used PAVA spray on someone in the years from 2016 to 2021.
Q2 - I would like it broken down by year, so I would like the data for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
I am pleased to inform you that the data requested in relation to Question 1 and 2 is already in the public domain via the MPS Publication Scheme. The MPS routinely publish large volumes of information on our website. The information you seek can be accessed via the following link:
Please select the no Taser tactics section and you will find the requested data next to the forced used section. The select a month drop down list at the top of the webpage allows you select data from April 2017 up until January 2022. Please note the electronic recording of Use of Force which includes the use of PAVA spray was introduced in the MPS in April 2017. Therefore we do not have any prior datasets in this regard.
Q3 - I would also like to know how many complaints were made about the use of PAVA spray during that period, again broken down by year.
I have attached an excel spreadsheet with the answer to question 3.
Please note there are three separate tabs within the spreadsheet, titled cover sheet, notes and table. The notes page should be read in conjunction with the data to ensure the report is interpreted correctly.