For mechanical restraints deemed intrusive (spitting hood, restraint chair, and
a combination of either a rear wrist and ankle restraint, or a waist restraint
belt and ankle restraint, linked by plastic ties) a supervisor’s authority must be
obtained before use.
Tactical Options Reporting (TOR) forms must be submitted when using a spitting
hood, restraint chair, a combination of either a rear wrist and ankle restraint, or
a waist restraint belt and ankle restraint, or when using pain compliance. Pain
compliance is defined as “the direct and intentional use of force by a constable
that causes pain to the subject, usually evidenced by the subject showing and/
or verbalising pain.” The use of these restraints must be recorded in the police
officer’s notebook and custody module along with the time the restraint was
used and removed. TOR forms are reviewed by a supervisor and an Inspector.
Once signed off, the TOR form is ‘completed’ and stored in the TOR database for
research and analysis purposes.
A person restrained by a spitting hood, a restraint chair, or a combination of
either a rear wrist and ankle restraint, or a waist restraint belt and ankle restraint
linked by plastic ties, must not be in the restraint for more than two hours unless
they have been assessed by a Police Medical Officer. If a Police Medical Officer is
not available a registered health professional or ambulance officer is sufficient.
A POL 705 Health and Safety Management Plan for Person in Custody must be
completed.
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