Norfolk Police used force on over 3,500 young people over four years
Methods of force used against under-18s included tasers, dogs, irritant spray and handcuffing
Last updated 15th Jun 2026
Norfolk Police has used force against children and teenagers more than 3,500 times over four years, it can be revealed.
New data over the same period also shows officers intervened physically with children under the age of 11 a total of 64 times – more than once a month on average.
Methods of force used against under-18s included tasers, dogs, irritant spray and handcuffing, with firearms aimed at children on two occasions.
The figures also show more than 100 children were hospitalised as a result of incidents over the same period.
In response to the findings Norfolk Constabulary said the circumstances behind the data were often convoluted.
A police spokeswoman said: “These figures show that incidents involving young people are varied and often complex, frequently linked to vulnerability, safeguarding concerns, mental health and risk of harm.”
Handcuffs, tasers and dogs
The figures – obtained via a freedom of information request submitted by this paper – cover the four financial years between 2021 and 2025.
They reveal almost 52pc (1,862) of incidents in which force was used involving under-18s ended in arrest, while 19pc (695) faced no further action.
Handcuffing accounted for the largest share of force used, with 1,171 compliant and 1,003 non-compliant incidents recorded.
While tasers were drawn or deployed 82 times against under-18s, and dogs were used on 18 occasions.
The data also reveals a sharp and unexplained spike in 2022-23, when incidents involving teenagers rose by 49pc in a single year – from 695 to 1,035 – before falling back to 779 by 2024-25.
'A wake-up call'
The figures come amid wider scrutiny of how Norfolk’s officers handle incidents involving young people.
A constable was struck off last year after handcuffing a vulnerable teenager to railings outside a flat.
PC Andrew Barton was dismissed following a misconduct hearing after he was found to have used excessive force.
The officer, who previously worked in the Dereham and Breckland policing areas, placed the youngster in a headlock after being called to an incident at a flat in October 2022.
He then handcuffed him to railings outside the property. The boy was later left handcuffed alone inside a police car for about 12 minutes.
A misconduct panel ruled his use of force was “disproportionate and unreasonable” and dismissed him without notice.
Jack O’Neill, director of policy advocacy and influencing at the Children’s Society, said the figures should prompt urgent reform.
“These figures are a wake-up call,” he said.
“Many children coming into contact with police are themselves victims, exploited and forced into crime, yet the response too often adds to their harm rather than offering safety.
“Police must work alongside social care and health services, with proper training to de-escalate tense situations. Children deserve protection and the change needed is urgent.”
'Wider national challenges'
Despite the alarming numbers, the county’s figures are broadly in line with the national average.
Across England and Wales, forces recorded nearly 90,000 use of force incidents involving teenagers in a single year alone, according to Home Office data.
A Norfolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: “Most uses of force are low‑level such as guiding a person by the arm or compliant handcuffing to prevent harm.”
She described how force often occurs in “fast‑moving situations” where officers “must protect individuals and maintain safety” but added that relatively few cases involved younger children.
“Importantly, any use of force must be justified, proportionate and recorded in line with national guidance,” she said.
“Officers are trained to prioritise safeguarding, de‑escalation, and proportionate, lawful intervention, applying a child‑centred approach supported by national guidance and partnership working.
“They are taught to recognise adverse childhood experiences, and the impact trauma can have on behaviour, and to adapt their approach accordingly.
“Overall demand has remained steady, though the nature of incidents increasingly reflects wider national challenges such as mental health and exploitation, alongside improved recording practices that provide greater transparency.
“The figures reflect the ongoing complexity of incidents officers attend involving young people, where the priority is to safeguard, protect, and resolve situations safely, using the least intrusive option necessary.”