The ILEF Vision
Following the establishment of the International Law Enforcement Forum the structures necessary to provide an ongoing international platform were developed. An ILEF Advisory Board was established, (with Colin Burrows QPM as its chair and Col. Andy Mazzara as its executive director). Membership of the Advisory Board includes senior police leaders from the US , Canada and the United Kingdom as well as policy makers, scientists, medial experts attached to internationally recognised research institutes. The board also includes international subject matter experts who have standing in respect the use of force by Police. A vision was developed as follows:
“A position in which the less-lethal systems and emerging technologies are developed and introduced, in a way that best meets the needs of law enforcement agencies on an international basis, through the development of internationally agreed approaches to:
a) operational requirements;
b) the identification of effects;
c) standards in respect of the development and testing of individual technologies;
d) sharing information on trialling and the monitoring of outcomes;
- in line with the mandate of Articles 2* and 3*of the United Nations Basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms, and consistent with civil and human rights standards in the local jurisdictions”.
Article 2: "Governments and law enforcement agencies should develop a range of means as broad as possible and equip law enforcement officials with various types of weapons and ammunition that would allow for a differentiated use of force and firearms ...
Article 3: "The development and deployment of non-lethal incapacitating weapons should be carefully evaluated in order to reduce the risk of endangering uninvolved persons, and the use of such weapons should be carefully controlled."