Police use of force up by 70 per cent
Recorded use of force by police officers in the West Midlands soared by 70 per cent last year, it has been revealed.
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the increase was linked to the growing threat faced by officers on the streets.
Between April and January there were 8,594 use of force records completed by West Midlands officers, a large rise compared to the previous year.
Use of force covers a wide range of tactics regularly deployed by officers including handcuffing suspects, restraints and take downs and drawing or use of batons.
Mr Jamieson said the figures showed the "danger" that officers face on a daily basis and that rising violent crime was to blame for officers having to take tougher action.
Recent figures showed there had been a sharp rise in violent crime across the West Midlands, violence against the person up by 27 per cent, violence without injury up 36 per cent and robbery up 13 per cent. Knife crime rose by 17 per cent in the year to September, faster than anywhere else in the country.
Mr Jamieson said bodyworn cameras were crucial to judging the actions of officers as well as to get an insight of the challenges they face on the job,
He said: "The way that police use force is something I scrutinise very closely. That is why I have supported the roll out of bodyworn video to police officers.
"This data also shows the danger that officers are placed in on a day to day basis and the force they sometimes have to use. The growing level of violent crime is clearly linked to increased levels of force used by police officers."
West Midlands Police's ranks are expected to be boosted by 1,200 new officers over the next three years as part of Boris Johnson's plan to increase the number of bobbies. However, Mr Jamieson says that will not be enough to restore numbers to the levels of 2010.
