Question
Could the Chief Constable provide the figures for the number of times spit and bite guards were applied from 2020/21 through to 2023/24 and where there is an increase in use set out the reasons for the increase?
Could the Chief Constable also break down the use by reasons for application alongside community background, age ranges, PSNI District, length of application and other relevant data kept by PSNI?
Answer
Please see statistics below. The length of the application of the Spite and Bite Guards were not recorded at the beginning of the tactic being used so that information is not available for the initial application stats. (79 of the uses out of 608 do not have these stats)
There does appear to be an increase in the use of Spit and Bite guards and I can confirm that PSNI have been working to improve officer confidence in the use of this tactic, in circumstances where it is an appropriate option to improve officer safety.
There is no information available regarding the breakdown of the uses by community background as this information is not collected.
| Spit and Bite Guard Applications by Year SBG Applications by Year | |
|---|---|
| 1st April 2020 - 31st March 2021 | 120 |
| 1st April 2021 - 31st March 2022 | 122 |
| 1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023 | 129 |
| 1st April 2023 - 31st March2024 | 186 |
| 1st April 2024 – Present | 51 |
| Total | 608 |
| Spit and Bite Guard Applications by Age SBG Applications by Age | |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 37 |
| 18 - 30 | 336 |
| 31 - 40 | 163 |
| 41 - 50 | 54 |
| 51 - 60 | 11 |
| 61 - 70 | 6 |
| 70 + | 1 |
| Minutes Applied | Number of Applications |
|---|---|
| 0 - 4 | 48 |
| 5 – 9 | 50 |
| 10 - 14 | 89 |
| 15 - 19 | 49 |
| 20 - 24 | 43 |
| 25 - 29 | 31 |
| 30 - 34 | 43 |
| 35 - 39 | 19 |
| 40 - 44 | 28 |
| 45 - 49 | 28 |
| 50 - 54 | 6 |
| 55 - 59 | 20 |
| 60 - 64 | 25 |
| 65 - 69 | 3 |
| 70 - 74 | 2 |
| 75 - 79 | 2 |
| 80 - 84 | 3 |
| 85 - 89 | 4 |
| 90 - 94 | 10 |
| 95 - 99 | 3 |
| 100 - 119 | 4 |
| 120+ | 19 |