Review and manual extraction of details from 282 tactical operations reports—s 18(f) applied
The Police refused a request for detailed information on the use of tasers, for the period December 2008–May 2010, including:
...a summary list of all incidents, with a description of location and what happened, where a person was actually tasered, along with supporting documentation ... including statistics on where it was drawn and a warning given with the person complying...
The Police explained that the only way to obtain this information would be to review and manually extract the relevant details from approximately 282 tactical operations reports (a tactical operations report is completed each time a taser or other tactical operation is used). The Ombudsman accepted that the amount of collation and research would be significant and would greatly impact on the ability of the Tactical Operations Research Team (which comprised three staff) to carry out its work plan.
This case note is published under the authority of the Ombudsmen Rules 1989 opens page in this tab. It sets out an Ombudsman’s view on the facts of a particular case. It should not be taken as establishing any legal precedent that would bind an Ombudsman in future.