Information about Violent Suppression Units(VSU)

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031077

I note you seek access to the following information:

What date in 2020 was the (VSU) violent suppression unit active in London from since 2020
How many officers has this unit increased by to date
What is the percentage of officers from the VSU that are from a previous policing roll before joining VSU
What extra training is given to VSU officers
Dose the VSU have extra policing powers
Dose VSU have a senior officer that over sees all VSU units

How many arrest was made by VSU south east command between 2020 when the unit began and 2021
How many stop and searches was recorded by the VSU south east command between 2020 - 2021
How many weapons knifes/fire arms have been recovered by the VSU south east command since the VSU began in 2020 to date
How many police complaints have been made against the VSU south east command since began in 2020 to date
How many officers have been removed for misconduct from the VSU across London sine began 2020 to date

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

I have numbered the questions and responses below for ease of reference:-

Q1 - What date in 2020 was the (VSU) violent suppression unit active in London from since 2020

March 2020

Q2 - How many officers has this unit increased by to date

The unit was set up with 1 Inspector 4 Sergeants and 33 PC’s. There has been no corporate growth of the VSU’s.

Q3 - What is the percentage of officers from the VSU that are from a previous policing roll before joining VSU

The VSU’s were set up using officers from within each BCU as such they were all from other policing roles.

Q4 - What extra training is given to VSU officers

There is no specific extra training provided for VSU officers. BCU’s may provide training such as response drive, behavioural detection.

Q5 - Dose the VSU have extra policing powers

No

Q6 - Dose VSU have a senior officer that over sees all VSU units

No – these are locally led by each BCU.

Q7 - How many arrest was made by VSU south east command between 2020 when the unit began and 2021

414 Arrests between May 2020 when unit began and 1 Jan 2021

Q8 - How many stop and searches was recorded by the VSU south east command between 2020 - 2021

1,564 stop and searches recorded between May 2020 when unit began and 1 Jan 2021

Q9 - How many weapons knifes/fire arms have been recovered by the VSU south east command since the VSU began in 2020 to date

240 weapons/firearms seized from May 2020 when unit began and 31 May 2023

Q10 - How many police complaints have been made against the VSU south east command since began in 2020 to date

Please note that the response provided in the below table is the number of complaints against officers attached to the SE VSU. The officer may have been performing other duties at the time the complaint was made.

Case Count	64
Officer Count	89
Officer Allegation Count	225

Q11 - How many officers have been removed for misconduct from the VSU across London since began 2020 to date

Dismissals	3
Would Have Been Dismissed	3
Restricted	40
Suspended	4