Police use of firearms statistics, England and Wales: April 2022 to March 2023

Product Description

This release contains statistics on police use of firearms and armed officer numbers for the 43 police forces in England and Wales in the year ending 31 March 2023.

This release includes information on the total number of:

• police firearms operations (the authorised deployment of armed officers where they may have to protect themselves or others from a person who is either in possession of a firearm or other weapon, has immediate access to a firearm or weapon, or is otherwise so dangerous that the officer’s use of a firearm may be necessary)
• police firearms operations involving armed response vehicles (ARVs) (vehicles adapted to quickly transport specialist equipment and firearms officers to deal with incidents)
• incidents in which police firearms were intentionally discharged (fired) at persons
• armed officers as at 31 March 2023, and of those, the number that were operationally deployable (available to work and not absent due to sickness (long or short-term) or on restricted duties)