Police shooting as a method of self-harming : a review of the evidence for 'suicide by cop' in England and Wales between 1998 and 2001

BEST, David, QUIGLEY, A. and BAILEY, A. (2004). Police shooting as a method of self-harming : a review of the evidence for 'suicide by cop' in England and Wales between 1998 and 2001. International Journal of the Sociology of Law, 32 (4), 349-361.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsl.2004.09.002

Abstract

There is increasing evidence that some individuals actively seek to bring about their own deaths by provoking armed police officers to shoot them. The current paper examines 22 police shooting incidents, nine fatal, between 1998 and 2001, to assess the likelihood of suicidal motivation in each of these cases. All 22 individuals shot were male, 18 were white, three black and one Asian and ages ranged from 18 to 51. Around half of the shootings examined have some evidence indicating a suicidal motive in those shot, with further indications of irrational behaviour in a number of the other cases. This has clear implications for the choice of police strategy in responding to such incidents and an imperative to develop 'less lethal' options to minimise the risk to such vulnerable populations.

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Law Research Group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsl.2004.09.002
Page Range: 349-361
Depositing User: Hilary Ridgway
Date Deposited: 29 Jan 2015 09:19
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 09:45
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9225

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