19. Use of Force

19.04. No more force is used than is strictly necessary and the carrying and use of weapons by personnel is prohibited.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.05. Use of force is fully documented and reported in an incidents register and in individual case files, and effective review procedures are in place.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.06. If force is used as a last resort against a detainee, the health of the detainee is fully protected and the detainee is medically examined whenever required, and as soon as possible after force is used.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.07. A detainee against whom force is used is entitled to seek a second opinion from a suitably qualified medical practitioner of his/her choosing as soon as possible after force is used.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.08. There is effective access to an independent complaints process.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.09. Where the use of force is unlawful, there are effective lines of accountability through to superior officers, subordinates cannot claim obedience to superior orders as a defence, and subordinates who refuse to obey orders are duly protected.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.01. Staff and law enforcement officials understand and respect the non-criminal status of immigration detainees and character of their detention and there is an ethic of non-violence that underpins the use of force as a last resort to maintain security and order, or when personal safety is threatened.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.02. The use of force against immigration detainees is explicitly governed by law and regulation, and limited to use in self-defence or other measures necessary to protect life and safety.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force

19.03. Arbitrary, abusive, or otherwise excessive use of force by law enforcement officials is a criminal offence.

C. Treatment and Duty of Protection and Care,19. Use of Force