Home Office Police Use of Force Statistics (Apr 2024–Mar 2025)
The Home Office has released its annual statistics on police use of force in England and Wales.
Details
Use of force reports have risen in number overall but the age distribution of those subject to force is consistent with the previous year.
The total number of use of force reports increased by 9% to 812,449 in the year ending March 2025, driven in part by improved recording, with restraint tactics remaining most common. The age distribution of those involved was broadly stable year-on-year. Children accounted for 11% (87,675)of reports for ages 11–17 and 0.1%(995) for under-11s.
Conducted energy devices (CEDs/Tasers) featured in 33,421 reports (4% of all), with 8% discharged. Overall CED use remained stable relative to recent years. For under-11s, there were 9 CED reports and none involved discharge. There were also 2 reports where a firearm was aimed but not fired. The publication does not provide a year-on-year count of CED uses specifically involving 11–17s; but proportionally, their involvement in less-lethal and firearm tactics did not increase. Children experienced a lower proportion of less-lethal and firearms than adults, while restraint and unarmed skills predominate overall; officers may use alternatives to handcuffing with the youngest, per safety guidance.
Racial disproportionality remains marked: the overall rate of use of force for Black groups is 3.4 times that of White groups outside the Met and 3.5 times in the Met. For CED use specifically, relative rates are higher—up to 4.1 times (all CED) and 3.3 times (CED discharges) outside the Met, with similar or higher disparity in the Met.
Commentary
For practitioners, the data evidences persistent racial disproportionality in both general force and CED use that will intersect with over-representation of Black children in the youth justice system, raising equality and safeguarding concerns in arrest and stop/search contexts. This needs to be highlighted when representing impacted black children. Where representing children, seek disclosure of tactic-by-tactic records, CED availability, impact factors (notably alleged weapon possession), and injury data, and challenge necessity and proportionality with age-appropriate alternatives highlighted by police guidance where relevant. Where appropriate, referrals should be made to a civil action lawyer who can support the child to challenge the use of force.