The rate of forceful arrests across Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham reduced by 23 per cent from October to December last year, according to the Met.

East Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) commander Det Ch Supt Stephen Clayman said the use of force has reduced following a change of handcuffing policy in November last year.

He added that the policy “directs officers to clearly risk assess and record each use” and shared that “a little over 50pc of all uses of force are handcuffing”.

Since implementing the policy, Det Ch Supt Clayman said he hopes “better recording and accountability of our use of force and a reduction will show the public we are only using these tactics when necessary”.

He said: “I fully support officers to use their powers, but we must be careful to only use them when we have adequate justification and in a proportionate way.”

The handcuffing policy was introduced following a review commissioned by Met commissioner Cressida Dick in 2019.

Det Ch Supt Clayman added: “Whilst it is difficult to directly attribute to the policy change, the subsequent reduction in our use of this tactic demonstrates our commitment to listening to our communities and responding to their concerns.”