B.13.01.R1 Intervention Strategies (National Requirement)

Policy Standard

• Prior to the use of force the following intervention strategies are to be considered:

Non-Physical Intervention - Prisoner Communication

1. Every attempt will be made to communicate with the prisoner(s) to diffuse the situation peacefully and without the need for physical force
2. The following behaviours will assist when communicating with inmates:
   1. Seek to find out the reasons for the prisoner's behaviour
   2. Check out that you have properly heard what the prisoner has said
   3. Focus carefully on the concerns expressed by the prisoner
   4. Communicate your perception of how the situation makes the prisoner feel
   5. Tell the prisoner clearly and reasonably what you want from them
   6. Tell the prisoner what is possible and what is not possible
   7. Where appropriate, openly provide the prisoner with information that will help him or her make informed decisions
   8. Help the prisoner to clarify his or her thinking
   9. Remain patient and receptive when the prisoner disagrees or challenges your point of view
   10. Focus on achieving an outcome agreeable to both you and the prisoner
3. Where appropriate, offer the prisoner the opportunity to voluntarily remove themselves from the situation

Containment

• For the purpose of this instruction containment means leaving the prisoner where they are, provided that it is a safe and secure environment and the prisoner is unable to cause harm or any further harm to themselves or to others

Physical Intervention

1. Minor non-theatening physical contact.

Such non-threatening physical contact will be called 'Trifling Physical Contact' and is not deemed to be 'use of force' (this terminology is consistent with the Police), for example when staff intervene in a fight between prisoners and keep them apart or when a prisoner is guided into a cell after refusing to enter.

The application of "trifling physical contact" must not result in the prisoner over balancing and / or falling, and does not result in any physical injury to the prisoner.

2. Planned Use of Force (UoF).

Any Planned Use of Force which deploys, and uses force on a prisoner/s is to have the full PPM B.13 process applied (debrief, entered on UoF Register and UoF Review undertaken).

Planned use of force must be pre-approved, planned, staff properly kitted, four officers making up a team, all officers in team are certified in Control and Restraint(C&R), approved holds and techniques used, supervised and videoed.

3. Planned Use of Force – without deployment and use of force

This occurs where the teams physical presence is sufficient for the prisoner/s to surrender. Must be recorded as an incident in IOMS, but categorise as 270 (not 275 as some prisons were previously recording).

4. Unplanned UoF (or spontaneous UoF)

Unplanned UoF also requires the full PPM B.13 process to be applied (debrief, added to UoF Register and UoF Review undertaken).

Must be recorded in IOMS, but now under category 235, not 275 as was previously the case.

Definitions and Reporting Requirements for Incidents involving Use of Force

The definitions and when they are used for reporting purposes are set out in the following table. 

Advanced Control and Restraint

• Under development

Inflammatory Agents

• Under review

Training and Certification

1. A physical hold must only be used by a staff member who has received adequate training in the use of that hold.
2. Staff members trained to use physical holds to restrain prisoners must undergo refresher courses at least once every year.