Fatal police shootings at 12-year high

Fatal police shootings are on the rise in England and Wales. The latest figures released by the Independent Police Complaints Commission reveal that the 6 people were shot dead between April 2016 and March 2017, up from 3 in the previous period. This is the highest figure since 2004/05. Among the recent fatalities recorded, one was terrorism-related, when officers shot an assailant after a stabbing attack in Westminster earlier this year.

The report further reveals that the number of apparent suicides following custody (if they occur within two days of someone’s release) has decreased sharply: Within the last year, 55 incidents were recorded compared to 60 in the year before and 71 in 2014/15.