Winnipeg police say they used less force in 2021

According to a report by the Winnipeg Police Board, officers had to use coercive methods or weapons in 699 cases during the year. In 2020, this figure was 748.

The number of incidents involving the use of force for 2021 is also lower than the average for the past five years, which is 825 according to the police.

The report states that only a small proportion of calls involve the use of force. In addition, Winnipeg police used their weapon in 21% of the 699 incidents.

The incidents where the police had to use their weapon involve cases serious assaults, says the report. In these cases, people exhibit volatile behavior that could cause injury or death to officers, other people involved or bystanders.

According to the document, violent behavior has become more and more frequent in the last two years, which would be attributable to the use of methamphetamine.

People under the influence of methamphetamine often have a high pain tolerance and are much less receptive to de-escalation techniquessays the report.

The Winnipeg Police Board does not report any shootings involving police officers. No deaths related to the use of force are listed in 2021. However, 73 police officers and 170 other people suffered injuries.

Fewer chances of avoiding an altercation

For the professor at the Royal Military College at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Christian Leuprecht, it is important to consider police reform when it comes to the use of force.

The specialist in policing issues says that the police must be ready to redirect people likely to provoke the use of force to the appropriate social services. Services in which Mr. Leuprecht says the governments of Canada have cut in recent years.

” The police find themselves suffering the consequences of budget cuts in social services because officers have fewer possibilities to redirect individuals at risk to other resources to avoid an altercation. »

However, Mr. Leuprecht acknowledges that the non-use of force would be unrealistic because there will always be circumstances that will require the intervention of [professionnels qualifiés] when people are a risk to themselves or to the public.

According to the professor, individuals involved in situations where force is used are often known to police and social services. So the use of force is a sign that the system has failed he believes.

But Leuprecht says the Winnipeg Police Service is among the most transparent in Canada when it comes to use-of-force data. He said since the Service has no clear position on the matter, it’s hard to say whether the 2021 drop is associated with police efforts or a variable.

The Police Council has not called for a reduction in the use of force, but its chairman, councilor Markus Chambers, says that it has always been a goal .

It’s probably something we could communicate better , admits Mr. Chambers. He says he has promoted racial bias awareness seminars for police officers, which he says could have an effect on the use of force.

With information from Sam Samson.