Pepper spray used more than 360 times last year by Cambridgeshire police
2022 saw the most use of PAVA or CS spray than any other in the last six years
Cambridgeshire Police used PAVA or CS Spray, similar to pepper spray, to restrain suspects more times last year than any other since 2017.
Figures released by the force show spray was used 369 times between January and December 2022, with the next highest amount being 298 recorded two years ago.
The data is part of a rising trend in the use of this technique by police officers, with January to December 2018 the only time where this figure has dropped.
“There are lots of factors that would influence that (rising trend), such as Covid saw a slight drop in use, violence incidents have an impact,” Superintendent Robin Sissons, force lead for use of force at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said.
Violence one of most common reasons for using PAVA
“The demand on police is increasing and probably the demand involving violence upon police is increasing, hence why officers are having to use techniques such as PAVA in order to detain people more (often).
“We are seeing levels of demand on police in recent weeks has been what we’d have called New Year’s Eve levels seven, eight years ago; we’re now seeing that on a regular basis.”
PAVA is a synthetic pepper spray used by police to control incidents and detain a suspect without causing serious harm to that suspect, themselves or others around them.
Some of the main crime types that PAVA or CS spray has been used include anti-social behaviour and on those who have caused violence through alcohol or drugs.
"We think it's an effective tool for officers to use"
“We’re also seeing an increase in mental health issues where people in a mental crisis show violent tendencies and officers are having to deal with people in that crisis,” Supt Sissons added.
“There are incidents where people are resistant to Pava or can resist the effects of this. ]
"It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s really effective in certain circumstances and at certain times.
“But there are no indications we would get rid of Pava; we think it’s an effective tool for officers to use.”