Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to review guidance to police forces on the proportionality of enforcement measures in cases involving non-violent offences.

When police officers are required to use force in order to achieve a lawful objective, the force used must be reasonable, proportionate and necessary in all circumstances. Where officers take the decision to use force, they are accountable through the law for their actions.

The College of Policing is responsible for setting guidance and standards which police abide by. Before being deployed all officers must pass comprehensive training, set by the College of Policing, in Public and Personal Safety which must be refreshed annually. Training reinforces the importance of legitimacy in police use of force at every level and is aimed at de-escalating the situation wherever possible to prevent harm.