A former cop says when police are trying to subdue suspects, the situation can swiftly deteriorate

New figures released to our newsroom show police have resorted to the tactical use of pain to bring violent or resisting offenders under control, more than two-thousand-600 times since 2016.

Maori account for 48 percent of cases.

Now an Auckland Council member, Alf Filipaina says pain should be more of a last resort, and must always be proportionate to what's happening at the time.