Hamilton police 2022 data shows 7% hike in use of force over year before

Hamilton police say there was a seven per cent increase in use of force reports last year compared with 2021.

The data released Wednesday indicates that 387 incidents involved use of force of the 270,500 reported public contacts.

“Officers are authorized to use a range of force options in response to an event or incident in order to protect life, preserve the peace, prevent crimes, maintain order and apprehend suspects,” said Chief Frank Bergen.

“Hamilton police are trained to only use the minimum force necessary.”

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The report also reveals an overrepresentation of Black individuals compared to the Hamilton population by a factor of 3.14 times over the general population.

Bergen says the police service is committed to exploring the internal and external factors contributing to these disparities.

“Understanding the complexities of these numbers will take a multi-faceted approach involving community leaders, academics, data experts and government institutions,” Bergen said.

Hamilton police say they are developing a standardized provincial strategy on race and identity data collection to meet the goal outlined in the 2017 Anti-Racism Act.

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The latest data shows a spike in the number of times a handgun was drawn or a firearm was discharged compared with 2021 as well. Police are attributing this to a rise in incidents in which suspects were armed.

Last year, officers discharged a firearm 26 times, up from 19 times the previous year. The report says only three of those discharges were for euthanizing injured animals.

“Uniform patrol is most likely to encounter incidents requiring an application of force, particularly those with less than five years of service,” Bergen said.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General requires police services to annually report use of force incidents. When force is used, an officer must fill out a form.

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