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The law recognises that there are situations where Police Officers may be required to use force. The primary responsibility for using force rests with the officers, who are answerable to the law.
Officers should consider three core questions before using force.
We have a number of powers and legislation which can help us in the fair and effective use of force.
The Criminal Law Act 1967 , the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and common law apply to all uses of force by the police and require that any use of force should be ‘reasonable’ in the circumstances. Reasonable in these circumstances means:
Excessive use of force is unlawful.
Section 76(7) of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 sets out two considerations that should be taken into account when deciding whether the force used was reasonable. Both are adopted from existing case law. They are:
Your experiences and opinions of use of force are important to us. You can share your thoughts, good or bad, in the following ways:
Complete our thanks form or complaint form.
You can also give us feedback by contacting:
Montell Neufville, Chair of the Use of Force scrutiny panel
Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Ampthill), 10 Bedford St, Ampthill, Bedfordshire
MK45 2NB. Telephone: 01525 402742
Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Bedford), 7a St Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK401SQ. Tel 0844 245 1290
Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Dunstable), Grove House, 76 High St North, Dunstable, Beds, LU6 1NF. Tel: 01582 661384
Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Leighton Buzzard), Bossard House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 1DA. Tel: 01525 373878
Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Luton), Community House, 15 New Bedford Road,
Luton, LU1 2DP. Tel: 03442451285