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Police Brutality

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Reasonable force or police bruait
In common with all citizens, the police may use reasonable force where necessary for self-defence, defence of another, defence of property, the prevention of a crime, or during a lawful arrest.

Under Section 117 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the police are also empowered to use ‘reasonable force’ if necessary when exercising the powers conferred to them under that act (except those which require someone other than a police officer’s consent).

What constitutes ‘reasonable force’?

There have been several cases involving a member of the public and the police in which the question has been raised as to what constitutes ‘reasonable force’ and what amounts to police brutality.

Police brutality generally means that a member of the police force has intentionally used excessive force in order to carry out a lawful police purpose. The brutality is usually physical.

PACE says that the police officer using force must honestly believe that it is justified and not excessive.

In cases brought against the police involving the question of police brutality, Crown Prosecution Service guidance suggests that the following considerations should be taken into account in assessing the reasonableness of the force used:
•whether the force was justified in the circumstances or whether it was excessive;
•the nature and degree of the force used;
•the seriousness of the offence which the police were trying to prevent, or for which an arrest was being made;
•if the individual was resisting arrest, the nature and degree of force used by the police in order to ensure that the arrest was successfully carried out;
•training or guidance that the police office had undergone, for example, in relation to the use of batons.

Generally, it is considered that force should only be used as a last resort. However, police officers may

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