I’m Not In Charge, So Not My Problem

I was reading several news articles related to inquests, where several things stood out.  In one case, a point that particularly caught my attention was that when asked about the ‘assumption the two-security staff working on the night of incident had been trained in physical intervention’, the person replied “yes”. Assume…you know what you get when you break down the … Read more

The Essence of Compliance, Competence, and Common Law in Physical Intervention Techniques

Yet again I received a phone call stating that because someone conducting a review had not heard of a particular technique that was being used, the reviewing person was saying that what they (the person being reviewed) had done was wrong! My question to the reviewing person, who as it turned out had no known physical intervention or conflict management … Read more

Reporting Your Version of the Truth

Conflict prevention, management, and physical intervention training are vital skills for individuals working in sectors where conflicts may arise, such as security, law enforcement, and healthcare, etc. These training programmes not only teach techniques for defusing potentially dangerous situations but also cover the legal aspects of using force and the crucial skill of incident report writing. The effectiveness of the … Read more

Self-Defence and Honestly Held Belief

Let’s have a look at this complex legal dilemma Self-defence is a fundamental concept in criminal law, allowing individuals to protect themselves or others from imminent harm and danger. However, there are situations where the use of force in self-defence results in the death of another person. In such cases, the law often hinges on whether the defendant genuinely believed … Read more

Understanding the Law and the Right to Act Appropriately

Understanding your rights and responsibility in self-defence, in a world where personal safety is a concern for many, is of paramount importance. The common misconception that one must wait for an attacker or assailant to strike the first blow is far from the reality of the law in the United Kingdom. UK law allows individuals to act appropriately, proportionately, and … Read more

The Importance of a Medical Risk Assessment in Physical Skills Training

Physical skills training encompasses a wide and varied range of activities, from fitness and sports to vocational and recreational pursuits and while these activities offer numerous benefits, they also carry inherent risks to the participants health, safety and wellbeing. This is why conducting a comprehensive medical risk assessment before an individual engages in physical skills training is of paramount importance. … Read more

Defining Reasonable Force – Balancing Control and Injury Prevention

The concept of reasonable force is a fundamental principle in legal frameworks worldwide, governing the permissible level of force individuals can use in various situations. However, the term “reasonable” is inherently subjective, making it difficult to create a universally applicable definition. This article looks into the complexities of defining reasonable force and highlights the need to get balance right between … Read more

The Changing Landscape of Police Response and How Selecting The Right Physical Intervention System is Paramount

In recent times, there has been a shift in how police services respond to calls for assistance from NHS Mental Health Units. Many of you will have heard of the ‘Right Care Right Person’ (RCRP) operational model developed by Humberside Police. In a letter sent to leaders of London health and social care providers on 24th May 2023, Commissioner Sir Mark … Read more

Pain Compliance on Children is Permissible & Why Adopt Standards For A Mental Health Unit, If You Are Not a Mental Health Unit?

The use of pain compliance on children is an emotive subject, it is contentious and one that many organisations fail when issuing legally robust policy and guidance. NFPS has covered this subject in previous publications and links to these will be given at the end of this post. Of course, applying pain to a child is the absolute last thing … Read more

Are the Use of Pain Compliance Holds Illegal?

I was recently contacted about the fact that a pain compliance technique was being taught during a training cause. The point from the caller was that they felt that the technique should not have been taught because they are not legal and the banned.  Particularly for staff not employed in law enforcement or security roles! Whilst the philosophy behind any … Read more