London police see uptick in use of force after addition of new Taser data
Police began requiring reports for drawing, pointing Tasers in 2023
The number of use of force reports filed by London police officers last year rose by more than a quarter compared to 2022, according to a new report before the London Police Services Board this week.
The uptick is attributed to new reporting requirements for drawing and displaying Tasers. The number of use of force reports makes up about 0.33 per cent of all service calls last year, something the report says "underscores the efficacy" of de-escalation training.
Visible minority groups continue to be over-represented in use of force cases, according to the report.
As of January 2023, officers are required to report when they draw and display a Taser with the intent of compliance, or when they point a Taser at somebody. That resulted in an additional 74 reports that wouldn't have been submitted previously.
The increase isn't because force is being used more, but reflects changes in use of force reporting, the report from Insp. Dave Pratt and Deputy Chief Treena MacSween suggests. Had the rules not changed, 2023's tally would have fallen below 2022's.
Neither were available for interviews Tuesday.
There were a total of 312 use of force reports submitted in 2023 — compared to 246 in 2022 and 299 in 2021. The tally includes 256 distinct occurrences and 25 incidents where a police animal was used.
In more than 60 per cent of cases, an officer pointed a firearm, up from about half in 2022. A Taser was discharged in 29 occurrences. In one incident, police shot and killed an armed suspect.
Forty-three per cent of cases involved weapons calls. Use of force occurred more often in downtown and Old East Village, according to the report.
The bump came amid a dip in police service calls for another year. Less than 93,000 were recorded by police in 2023, roughly 2,000 fewer than 2022, and nearly 14,000 lower than 2021.
Black, Middle Eastern community over-represented
At least 378 people were subject to use of force last year. Of them, nearly 63 per cent were identified by officers as being white, and about 36 per cent as being visible minorities, the report says. Fifteen per cent were Black, while 11.5 per cent were Middle Eastern, and 5.8 per cent Indigenous.
In London, Black residents made up 4.2 per cent of the population in 2021, while 6.6 per cent were Middle Eastern and 2.6 per cent Indigenous.
"While some racial disparities in use of force incidents were noted, statistical analyses did not reveal a disproportionate use of specific types of force against visible minorities," the report says.
"Every use of force situation and incident is unique, so there could be a lot going on," said Erick Laming of Trent University.
"But it is a concern when we are seeing the trends year after year of this over-representation, and what's being done about it."
A report obtained by CBC News last month painted a picture of a police force which treated non-white people in a domineering way and often stereotyped communities. Chief Thai Truong said he is working on changing the systemic racism within the service, and welcomed outside advice.
Numbers show 'efficacy' of de-escalation training
Regarding use of force making up about 0.33 per cent of all service calls last year, Laming says police use the number as a benchmark to say "force rarely happens."
"I always enjoy that, because most calls for service would never, ever reach the point of even having to de-escalate a situation," said Laming.
Police are required to submit reports to the province when there is an interaction with the public and a firearm or Taser is drawn, pointed, or discharged, another weapon is used on a person, or force results in injury requiring medical attention.
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