Training helps Staffordshire Police reduce assaults on officers
A police force has revealed it is training officers to de-escalate potentially violent situations and avoid their workers being assaulted.
Staffordshire Police recorded a five per cent drop in assaults on officers during lockdown, from 105 in 2019 to 99 this year. That means the force has bucked the national trend, which saw a 21 per cent rise across 31 forces, from 6,505 to 7,863.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said there is “no excuse” for anybody to assault a serving police officer. A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said the drop in assault numbers is because of officers being trained to deal with conflict.
He said: “We have seen a fall in the number of assaults on our officers and staff over the past year, which can be linked to how responders are being trained to deal with conflict situations.
“Officers are taught de-escalation techniques for when they are called to incidents where people are angry or using drugs or alcohol or maybe suffering a mental health episode.
Scenarios
“When it is necessary for officers to protect themselves, there is a range of personal protection equipment at their disposal, including batons, handcuffs, spit and bite guards, Pava spray and leg restraints.
"Officers also carry first aid kits. Special Constables have also recently been given additional protective equipment and BWV.
“Training is constantly reviewed and updated and officers and staff are put through special training scenarios, including dealing with prisoners who are in custody and how to safely transport prisoners in vehicles.
“Every new recruit who joins the force undergoes rigorous personal safety training, which they continue to carry out, depending on their role, throughout their service.
"This includes fitness and safety training, first aid and public order training.”
