FOI 656/25
REQUEST
- For the total number of deployments* of incapacitant spray/tasers from January 2022 to as recently as possible in 2025
1a. A breakdown of the circumstances of these deployments.
1b. A breakdown of the type of incapacitant spray/taser that was deployed.
*Further clarification: when I refer to "deployment", this includes a taser being drawn from its holster without being fired
- For the provision of the total number of authorisations for the deployment of attenuating energy projectiles/armed response units from January 2022 to as recently as possible in 2025
2a. A breakdown of the reasons for why the authorisation was given in each instance.
RESPONSE
Your request for information has now been considered and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.
In relation to your request, the following exemption applies:
Section 12 – Exemption where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate limit.
We consulted with our Joint Firearms department who have advised to provide the data for question 2 would require manual interrogation of commander decision logs. Furthermore, even through manual interrogation, we may not be able to retrieve the information you have requested. Whilst I cannot quantify how long this would take; it would certainly exceed the 18 hour limit.
It is estimated that the cost of providing you with the information is above the amount to which we are legally required to respond i.e. the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the "appropriate level" as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In the case of the police service, the appropriate limit is £450 which has been calculated to equate to a total of 18 hours of work.
If any part of the request exceeds the fees limit then Section 12 applies to the whole request.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a refusal notice.
Excess cost removes the forces obligation under the Freedom of Information Act, however under Section 16 – Duty to provide advice and assistance, an authority is required to offer an applicant the opportunity to redefine their request within the cost limit. If you were to remove question 2 and 2a, we may be able to assist with your request.