Cambridgeshire Police record drop in pepper spray use
The force saw a 13 percent decrease in PAVA spray use in 2023
Last updated 17th Jun 2024
Less suspects in Cambridgeshire needed to be restrained by police using specialist spray last year than the previous 12 months.
PAVA - a synthetic pepper spray that helps police control incidents without causing serious harm to that suspect, themselves or others around them - was used 320 times in 2023 compared to 369 the year before.
It's the second year running the use of PAVA has surpassed more than 300 times.
"If there's a sharp decline, I'd be concerned"
Superintendent Robin Sissons is force lead for use of force at Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
"It's a tactic to bring someone under control quickly and safely, so this statistic (less usage in 2023) tells us how often officers are in a predicament where they're facing immediate danger and using PAVA to protect themselves," he said.
"If there was a sharp decline in the use of PAVA, I'd be concerned but the fact it's fairly consistent and it will go up slightly each year, means to me the officers still have confidence in the kit that we've given them."
Where PAVA is used
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.
Last summer, Mr Sissons highlighted rising demand on police meant other ways of detaining suspects, like PAVA, needed to be used.
"There are times when it may affect people's breathing; we have to make sure that at the end of the day, we don't want people to go through pain any longer than they need to, so there's a host of aftercare medical attention we give to officers and the public," he added.
"I would imagine 2024 statistics will be similar (to 2023) and officers will be using PAVA at appropriate times because we don't want officers using it on a daily basis but want them to use it when needed."