Use of Force - meeting minutes - May 2022

Attendees

Chair - Hina Shafi (HS)

Loveness Bishi (LB)

Elaine Keen (EK)

Phil Dickson-Earle (PDE)

Marcella Taylor-Smith (MTS)

Myrna Loy (ML)

Alice Burlington (Stakeholder Engagement Officer at the IOPC)

Sgt Vick Sanghera (KS)

Chief Inspector Hob Hoque (HH)

Welcome / Apologies / Introduction

Apologies

Apologies received from KB, HM, and FK

Introduction

HS welcomes all and goes through introductions of all that are in attendance.

Purpose of the panel and process

HS explained to the group what they will be seeing and what they are expected to be doing whilst as acting as panel members. This will be to gain all your opinions of the videos watched and then collate a common panel view. We will also RAG rate it. This is (RED, AMBER, or GREEN)

Green is good, Amber is that there is learning needed, Red is unacceptable. 

In use of force, we will use an acronym called PLANTER:

P - Was the use of force Proportionate for the risk faced by the officer?

L - Was the length of time the force used acceptable?

A - Do the actions of the member of the public warrant force to be used?

N - Was it necessary to use force?

T - Was the type of force used appropriate?

E - Was it ethical to use force in the situation?

R - Was it reasonable for the officer to use force?

HS will be making notes of what has been said so the evaluation form can be given to KS who can then speak to the officers regarding the gradings.

HS updated all that a new Chair has been recruited for Use of Force and Stop and Search and currently waiting for her to undergo vetting before she joins the panel. HS will be Deputy Chair and working more on the engagement side of the panel.

HS discussed the visit to the Force Control Room (FCC) for panel members, confirmed dates and attendance and advised that she will send the names of attendees to KS to arrange for one of his officers or the FCC staff to be present to escort Panel members.

Minutes of last meeting

There were 2 records at the last meeting where force was used, but this was a duplicate record.

Video 1

A male has been detained under section 1 of PACE as he matched the description of a male involved in a stabbing. Male has his hood up and saw an officer and made off and threw something on the floor. Officers have chased and when they caught him, he has tried to hide.

Use of Force used 

Non-compliant handcuffing, tact comms, taser drawn, red dotted but not fired.

A discussion took place between the panel.

Graded – Green 3

Video 2

Two officers involved, will show first view first then the panel can have the option of watching the second view. Officers have been called by the security at a nightclub in regards to a female who has assaulted a security guard by scratching her to the face.

Use of Force used

Tactical comms and compliant handcuffing

A discussion took place between the panel before grading the video.

Female Officer

RAG Graded – Green 1

Male Officer

RAG Graded – Red 8

Video 3

Officers have attended an address following reports of an argument at the location between a man and a woman. Upon arrival, the female party has refused to allow the officers entry and stated that there was nothing to worry about however officers have checked with neighbours and learned that the male was confirmed to be in the property. The officers have entered under section 17 of PACE due to protection of life and fear that something isn’t quite right. They performed a check of the property.

Whilst looking around the property they have located the male hiding underneath a bed. Upon discovering the male, information they received prior to attending the address is that this male has a breach of a harassment order against him so should not be at that address. Officers proceeded to make an arrest on the male, the male has got violent from that point.

Use of Force used 

Parva, non-compliant handcuffing, tactical comms

A discussion took place between the panel before grading the video.

RAG Graded – Green 3

Video 4

Video 4 not viewed/graded due to running out of time.

Any Community Issues

Nothing to add

AOB

VS confirmed that he will send the data pack out to all Panel members due to running out of time. HS will forward her questions to VS/HH with the Panel members copied into the email. Panel members to also send across their questions via email and this can be worked through at the next UOF Panel meeting.

HS will complete the evaluation forms and send them to all Panel members so that information can be agreed before being sent to VS.

HS confirmed that she would like there to be a get together prior to the next meeting in July and for it to be a charity football match, the Panel up against the Police Officers. This will also allow for the Panel to meet the new Chair.

IOPC member thanked the Panel for allowing her to join the meeting and made all aware that the IOPC have released some recommendations to Police Forces regarding Stop and Search. This will be forwarded to KB so that it can be sent to the Panel members along with contact details for any questions.

Closing Remarks

Nothing to add.