This Website is Protectively Marked as **UK OFFICAL** Data on this website is not to be shared with members of the public.

Use of Force

Introduction

This NCALT will look at the use of force both in relation to the policies laid down by the Los Santos police service and the relevant legislation

PLAN

PLAN is an acronym used in relation to the use of force and must be considered at all times along with the National Decision-making model.

P-Proportionate

All use of force must be proportionate to the circumstances and although it is the judgment call of the officer concerned to assess what is to be regarded as proportionate at the time the Los Santos Police Service has issued guidance on the matter based on the levels of resistance shown by the individual at the time. This being said there are both mitigating and aggravating factors in the situation presented such as:

Presence\ Suspected presence of any weapons;
Any attempts or threats the individual has made as to cause injury;
The risk should the individual continue or escape;
any health condition mental or physical known to the police.

These factors may justify and upward or downward shift in the acceptable use of force

Preventive Strikes, Red Dotting and Firearms Challenges

The Law and Policing policies do allow for pre-emptive strikes, using a taser to red dot a suspect and making an armed challenge if the situation warrants it however this still must be proportionate and the officer must be able to justify their decision

(OOC: Ensure that quality roleplay is provided prior to actually making a pre-emptive strike otherwise an officer may fall foul of RDM Rules)

fig.1 Image showing different uses of force and what resistance level is justified for them

Resistance levels

There are 4 different levels of resistance:

Compliant/ No Resistance - The individual is complying with instructions and commands
Passive resistance - The individual is not complying with instructions or commands but is not trying to get away ie. someone just standing there refusing to comply
Active Resistance - The individual is actively resisting your commands and instructions ie. running away, resisting being placed in handcuffs
Aggressive Resistance - The individual is being aggressive and using force against officers ie. Punching, Tackling, using weapons

L - Legal

Members of the police service are not above the law and they must ensure that any use of force is backed by legislation. There are 3 main bits of legislation that permit an offcier to use force:

Common Law

Common Law allows an officer to use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances force to:

Protect themselves;
Protect Others;
Protect Property.

Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act

A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large.

Section 117 Police and Criminal Evidence Act

Allows an officer to use reasonable force when exercising any powers under PACE

A- Accountable

All officers will be individually held accountable for the force they use. It does not matter if they were instructed to use fore by another officer each oficer that uses force must be able to justify it and failing to do so may lead to disciplinary action or criminal charges.

N- Necessary

All uses of force must be necessary and the lowest level of force to achieve the required goal must be used. To ensure that the use of force is necessary the Los Santos Police Service has adopted the ASK- TELL- MAKE method. This method should be used in most situations however if there is an immediate threat such as an individual who is attaching someone it may be disregarded and force used immediately.

ASK - Ask the individual to do something ie. "Put your hands up please"

TELL - Order the individaul to do something ie "PLace your hands up now"

MAKE - Make them comply though the application of force

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse