Police fears over handcuffs guideline

Police unions say they are alarmed at a new directive that officers should only use handcuffs when making an arrest - implying they are not to be used when handling people who refuse to be searched or who are attempting to commit suicide.

The unions say frontline officers have been confused since the directive was issued about two weeks ago.

The chairman of the Police Inspectors' Association, Tony Liu Kit-ming, said yesterday that officers were extremely worried about the notice and felt it might affect their ability to protect public safety.

A police spokeswoman said it was 'a reminder of the provisions of the orders relating to the use of wrist restraints', and the force would look into the concerns of frontline officers. The new directive was issued by the Complaints Against Police Office (Capo) to all police officers with reference to two cases involving the use of handcuffs.

In one case, a police officer tackled a man who was threatening to jump from his flat. The officer used handcuffs to subdue and restrain him in order to prevent him from injuring himself or others. The man complained the officer had used unnecessary authority by handcuffing him.

The other case involved officers who handcuffed an unco-operative and emotionally disturbed man while searching for dangerous drugs. Nothing was found on the man and he later accused the police of unauthorised use of handcuffs. No arrest was made in either of these cases.