Police have been instructed to cease using Tasers on children in custody settings due to concerns that the use of force against young individuals is not being adequately recorded. A report released by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner has identified a critical data gap concerning the application of Tasers, incapacitating spray, spit hoods, bite guards, strip searches, and physical techniques such as punches and kicks against children.
The lack of comprehensive data prevents thorough scrutiny of Police Scotland’s policies and practices, according to Commissioner Nicola Killean. She noted that information such as whether a child has a disability (unless directly related to Taser use) and specific age details are often missing from records.
Killean is advocating for an immediate end to the use of Tasers or PAVA (incapacitating spray) on children in custody and further restrictions on their deployment by Police Scotland. Her review of Police Scotland data from 2023-24 was prompted by published information from the Scottish Police Authority regarding incidents involving children.
"When children come into contact with the police, for whatever reason, they should be treated first and foremost as children," Killean stated. "Although there are some occasions when police will have to use force against a child, to keep the child or others safe, this must always be done using a rights-based approach."
She emphasized that each statistic represents a real child who may have experienced trauma from being struck, strip-searched, or Tasered. Killean called for detailed recording of incidents and child demographics, including age, ethnicity, sex, and disability status, to identify and address potential disparities in impact on different groups of children.
Use of Force Data
The report indicates that Tasers were used 43 times against children, with 16 instances involving children with cited mental health issues, 12 against care-experienced children, and ten against children with learning disabilities or autism. Additionally, there were 262 incidents of children being strip-searched in police custody. Spit hoods and bite guards were employed on children 148 times, with 32 of these occurring in custody settings.
Physical force, described as 'empty hand' techniques and strikes, was used 1,313 times, including 641 instances for restraint, 97 for striking, and 539 for 'takedown' maneuvers. The report also highlighted that some uses of force can cause serious harm, including risks of suffocation and death.
Recommendations for Improvement
Commissioner Killean has put forth 21 recommendations. These include a mandate for Police Scotland to record data on disability, age, ethnicity, and sex for all uses of force against children in a single, accessible location. Other recommendations urge officers to immediately cease using Tasers and PAVA spray in custody settings and to establish an independent working group to help the force review its guidance and training against human rights standards, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Killean also proposed that Police Scotland collaborate with the Scottish Government to secure the necessary resources for improving data recording and reporting.
Nick Hobbs, Head of Legal at the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, commented that human rights standards necessitate proper recording and monitoring to safeguard children's rights. He added that this includes identifying and considering particularly vulnerable groups to ensure policies, guidance, training, and practices can be scrutinized and revised as needed. Hobbs expressed anticipation for the implementation of the recommendations to ensure the rights of all children in contact with the law are respected, protected, and fulfilled.
The Scottish Government and Police Scotland have been approached for comment.