Risk Factors for Police

1. Risk Factors for Police BACK TO BASICS FORCE MODEL for Police & Public Safety Don Gold Minimum Force Institute www.minimumforceafrica.com

2. PRELIMINARY • Info obtained from media / observation / opinion • At best, a perception of the situation • Encountered pockets of excellence / initiative • Across the justice / conservation sector • National / provincial / municipal • Commanders / members / reservists • Special Task Force

3. BACKGROUND • MFI established 1994 in response to violence • Forceful policing: Had to be a better way • Studies in USA 1998 – 2013, ongoing • 2010 Civilian Secretariat • 2011 Benoni Summit • Force policy / Conferences, ongoing • Work in SA + further afield (Africa, etc) • 2015 DCS, ongoing

4. CHALLENGES • Police Casualties High • Morale and Public Image Low • The Solution? Back to Basics

5. FORCE MODEL For handling difficult people Graduated selection of force options Subject behaviour / Officer response Prioritise ongoing training needs Generate compliance With dignity and safety Used here to highlight the gaps contributing to our problems

6. SUBJECTOFFICER (6)Assailant(Armed)…....…..........Lethal Force (5)Assailant (Unarmed)…….......….......……Baton (4)Resistance(Active)……........….......…Pepper (3)Resistance(Passive)…….................….Hands (2)Cooperation(Low)…....................…….Words (1)Cooperation(High)…….........….…Presence

7. Level 1 - PRESENCE Officer’s: Appearance Assertive demeanour Bearing Posture Body language / facial expressions Grooming Clothing Official vehicle

8. PRESENCE The only agencies known to have received formal training in presence: • KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate since 1997 • Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife since 1995 • Gauteng Nature Conservation since 2008 • Dept Environmental Affairs since 2010

9. Level 2 - WORDS About 3% of an officer’s time is spent physically forcing people to comply 97% is spent talking to people Officers talk to people for a living! Minimal / no time spent on training Training should start here (basics)

10. FORCE OPTIONS Firearm Baton Pepper Spray Empty Hands Words Presence 3% Action 97% Talk

11. WORDS Many violent clashes caused by officers’ unprofessional approach Leading to verbal disharmony Only presence & words can promise a non-violent resolution Although soft, words are powerful skills To avoid, prevent & de-escalate violence

12. Level 3 - EMPTY HANDS When words fail Judicious use of pain is required Before handcuffing Effective - low propensity for injury Court defensible Reduce civil claims Training only in police college

13. Level 4 – PEPPER SPRAY Oleoresin capsicum – OC 3 types Excellent tool Often misused without training (hit) Force model Benefits / limitations Only in police college

14. Level 5 - BATON Necessary tool / authorised targets Force model Benefits / limitations ASP vs Tonfa Misused without proper training Withdrawn from SAPS No training after police college No baton = potential for litigation

15. Level 6 – LETHAL FORCE To protect human life / last resort Section 49 / arrests only in dire extreme In SA where life has become so cheap Officers need protection Against armed criminals To deal with spontaneous violence Anytime / anywhere

16. LETHAL FORCE Observations: Apart from pockets of excellence Training ranges from abysmal to mediocre As little as once a year Methods inappropriate for the real world So-called “competency” is not training Officers learning to shoot, not fight (2nd place) Many good instructors - frustrated Abysmal to mediocre

17. LETHAL FORCE It is the responsibility of government to regularly provide only the best training available However, the current situation falls seriously short of international standards Agencies with such glaring training deficiencies expose themselves to the high cost of litigation

18. GENERAL Officers’ force toolboxes are ill-equipped Failing to provide confidence when confronting volatile situations Training grossly inadequate Almost totally inappropriate for reality of the streets We are failing them! (indirectly/directly?) HOW DO WE EXPECT THEM TO COPE?

19. Without proper trainingand equipment Officers will not respond professionally They’ll react with primal instincts If people are nasty – they’ll be nasty back If they are sworn at – they swear back If people get physical – they get physical back All in a knee-jerk, chaotic way!

20. WHY? Because we have not equipped them with the tools and CONDITIONED RESPONSES they need to do the job! How can we expect more from them? REALITY BASED TRAINING!

21. CONDITIONED RESPONSES Designed to avoid, resolve, manage All 6 levels of the force model With carefully selected methods Compatible with human capabilities During the fight-or-flight response Less-perishable skills Requiring less frequent retraining

22. REALITY BASED TRAINING Training cannot happen in isolation Without due attention to the human factors Concerning officers and citizens alike Training needs to be constantly infused With ethics A regard for citizen dignity And a deep reverence for human life

23. RESOURCES SA has all the resources we need To go back to basics To remedy the situation Everything is here Government, community, private sector Unions / training? All we need is the will, that’s all!

24. CONCLUSION Risk factors for police Are multi-facetted and complex We have dealt here with just one basic issue Chosen because it touches so many others There is so much more to say and to share Thank you