‘Keep your claws off the trigger’; a focus group study on involuntary firearm discharges

Special interventions operators often operate in high-risk situations where the use of force, including firearms, is required. Firearm use carries inherent risks, including the risk of an involuntary firearm discharge (IFD), which occurs when an operator unintentionally pulls the trigger without conscious intent. To better understand these incidents, this study explored the experiences and perspectives of experts who deal with these risks. Three focus groups were conducted to identify factors that operators perceive as contributing to IFDs and to examine operational procedures that influence risk and prevention. An inductive thematic analysis resulted in five themes: Operational Complexity, Operational Resources, Operational Behaviour, IFD Risk Awareness and Mitigation, and The Inevitable?, with varying numbers of sub-themes. Participants identified personal, behavioural, situational and procedural risk factors as well as relevant operational procedures and mitigation strategies affecting IFD risk. These findings enhance understanding of the operational context and provide practice-grounded insights to inform feasible and effective prevention strategies.