DORSET Police are using a rising number of force tactics – including drawing TASER guns – on children, figures reveal.

The Howard League said police forces across England and Wales should reduce the "worrying" rise in use of force incidents involving children.

Home Office statistics show Dorset Police used force tactics on under-18s on 1,064 occasions in 2020-21 – with six involving children under 11.

'Worrying'

This was up from 1,034 the year before, and 867 in 2018-19 – the first year such figures were recorded at police force level.

Last year, Dorset officers handcuffed children 548 times, physically restrained them on the ground on 228 occasions and used 37 limb or body restraints.

READ MORE: Man needed stitches after assault in Bournemouth town centre

READ MORE: CareService24 'requires improvement' says CQC report

Officers also recorded 11 instances of firearms being used, though it is not known whether they were fired or aimed.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “A steep rise in the police use of force against children is a worrying trend, particularly when the levels of children arrested remain thankfully low.”

Superintendent Pete Browning, of Dorset Police, said: “Dorset Police recognises that any use of force must be justifiable in the circumstances and particular care needs to be taken when children are involved.

'Force is used to protect the public'

“When force is used, it is done so to protect the public, the officers involved and importantly, also to safeguard the individuals themselves.”

Officers across the two nations drew or fired TASER devices 2,600 times on children in 2020-21 – with 11 uses logged by Dorset Police.

However, none of these saw the device discharged.

TASER weapons are designed to temporarily incapacitate someone with an electric shock – either fired at someone from a distance or held against their body to stun them.

The Children’s Rights Alliance for England wants their use on children banned, or permitted in only the rarest situations.

Superintendent Browning said: “Superintendent Browning said there were a variety of reasons where force needs to be used and the use of force last year should be taken in context with the rise in visitor numbers and the impacts of the pandemic.

He said: “It is worth noting that the age range for this data is from 11 years to 18 years old and whilst Dorset Police recognise these are all children, there is considerable variation such as likelihood of carrying knives at differing ages.

“The majority of incidents involve those aged between 17 and 18 years old.

"Thankfully, the necessity to use force on younger children, as borne out by the figures, remains rare.

“County lines drugs gangs can also exploit children to courier drugs and money, with youngsters groomed and threatened with violence if they don’t comply.

“A worrying national trend has been the instances where children carry knives and have been prepared to use them against other people often with little realisation of the consequences of their actions.

“Whilst still rare, Dorset has seen incidents involving children with access to or potentially linked to weapons. The response to these reports will be proportionate, but where the public is at risk of significant harm this could involve the deployment of firearms officers or officers equipped with Taser.

“No firearms have been discharged in relation to children and it is worth noting that use of Taser includes pointing a Taser at an individual, lighting a red dot to indicate its readiness, arcing a current as another visual indicator or simply referencing that Taser is available.

He added: “Where force is used, officers would seek to use the minimum necessary and this will depend on the circumstances.

'Use of force continually scrutinised' 

“The use of restraints, including physically taking hold of a child, using handcuffs or limb restraints, would be considered where verbal control has been unsuccessful and balanced with the need to safeguard the public.

“The use of force is continually scrutinised with particular emphasis on instances involving children where the grounds would be subject to increased, including external, scrutiny.

“The use of body-worn video allows independent review and accountability in all instances.”