Page 18 - Top Cover Issue 8

18 TOP COVER ISSUE 8

SCIENCE ON THE STREET

MULTIPLE

SHOTS

MULTIPLE

ATTACKERS

Many lawyers and media point he would likely collapse but still
he lawful discharge correspondents fail to appreciate that remain conscious. Perhaps a logical
of firearms by the only guaranteed way to immediately question to ask is how many shots could
police is a legal incapacitate any human with a single this male fire at the public or police in
concept that bullet is through the disruption of their 4.6 seconds?
includes notions central nervous system (C.N.S) and A most recent legal review of a police
of reasonableness, this means the specific disruption of the shooting gives us all some insight into a
absolute necessity, midbrain or cervical spinal cord. thought process applied by Courts when
individual Direct tissue damage by a bullet to considering the number of shots fired by
T justification and the brain may potentially result in the police: “This analysis has consequences in
proportionality. ACPO offers this instantaneous incapacitation of a subject, terms of life and death. As was forcefully
guidance to all firearms officers who may however this is not guaranteed. Lack of pointed out on behalf of the family, had
have to discharge their weapons: “When oxygen caused by bleeding and massive shooting ended before or after two shots,
an AFO decides to discharge a firearm, blood pressure loss will eventually stop the subject would have lived; had it
the number and sequencing of rounds any human, however, what will always ended after the next two shots he would
fired will depend on the circumstances remain unknown to the firearms officer have lived, assuming prompt medical
that exist at the time. Officers must at the scene is just how long will this take attention. With the next two shots he
constantly assess the threat posed by the and what can the armed subject achieve dies; with the last two shots, death is
subject and the continuance of the threat. in the seconds prior to collapse? confirmed.”
Officers must be able to demonstrate that Despite scientific advice, the populist Regardless of this narrow and
the degree of force used was absolutely view remains that bullet wounds to retrospective commentary, no absolute
necessary and relative to the threat posed. the brain lead to instant incapacitation limit can or should be set for the number
The use of excessive force is strictly and, in the face of compelling medical of rounds that any officer fires. The
prohibited.” (APP 1.12) evidence, misinformation persists. implications from medical evidence
However, interpretation of this Bullet wounds to the heart may be are not trivial factors when balancing
guidance is open to conjecture and equally ineffective for several seconds or firearms training and instruction within
supposition. Frequently retrospective minutes; indeed many people can survive a framework of legal interpretation
bias informs media and legal teams alike penetrating heart injuries providing the and understanding. It is not possible
and one myth that still persists within thoracic aorta has not been hit. to predict the neutralising effect of any
society is the infamous ‘One Shot Stop’: Dr Ken Newgard calculates that a bullet within split seconds of it impacting
1
a mistaken notion that the impact of one 70kg male (11 stone) suffering a fatal a subject.
round into the torso or head correlates wound that totally severs his thoracic The historic case of Phineas Gage
to the immediate incapacitation of a aorta would have 4.6 seconds until he highlights the potential limited effect
violent subject. lost 20% of his blood volume. At this of considerable brain penetration upon