Almost 300 police officers could be unable to use handcuffs

The force has 700 warranted staff who have not yet completed the annual refreshers

Almost 300 frontline Avon and Somerset Police officers could be unable to use handcuffs or a Taser because their safety training has lapsed.

The response officers were among 700 warranted staff who have not yet completed annual refreshers in use of force, first aid and dealing with conflict.

This means they are considered "non-deployable to public-facing roles".

But crews can still be deployed if a risk assessment is completed. 

The report to the police joint audit committee's meeting in October said the officers do not have the authority to carry a Taser, PAVA [an incapacitant spray], batons, handcuffs etc" as a result, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The affected officers could also be unable to use Tasers

But should a police officer with an expired personal safety training (PST) use "tactics that subsequently injures or kills a suspect, this could result in severe legal, financial and reputational harm for the force", the report warned.

Mike Carter, the head of training at the force, said there was often a "lapse between PST end date and scheduling".

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Many other police forces allow a 15-month window but Avon and Somerset "strictly adhere to the 12 months for record keeping and strive to meet this wherever possible".

There are currently 285 response officers out of accreditation and all of these are scheduled for refresher training within the 15-month window, he explained.

The report said the force wants to ensure that no emergency response driver or Taser carrier will be allowed to perform their skill if their training has expired, the LDRS reported.

Correction: Friday 5 November - This story has been updated after we previously reported officers were not able to use handcuffs or a Taser due to a lapse in safety training, which was incorrect.