Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
Please can you provide data on the number of times tasers were used against children aged under 18 in each of the local authorities covered by
the police force in 2017.
Please provide the above data broken down by age and categories of use: Drawn, Aimed,Arced, Red Dotted, Drive Stun, Angled Drive Stun and Fired.
Please could you also provide information on the youngest person a taser was used against (age, category of use).
If possible, please provide details of the incidents where a taser was used.
In Response:
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Operations Department of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.
I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows.
2 x 17 year old - red dotted - 1 x threatening self-harm with knife, 1x threats with knife
16 year old – drawn – threats with knife
15 year old – drawn – threats with knife
13 year old – red dotted – threats with knife
4 of these uses occurred in the Newcastle upon Tyne Local Authority area.
1 use occurred in the Sunderland Local Authority area.