Legal

Reasonable Force

Section 3 Criminal Law Act — force that is necessary AND proportionate.

Two tests

NECESSARY — was force needed at all? Could you achieve the objective without it?
PROPORTIONATE — was the level of force appropriate to the threat?

Consider

Threat level (weapons, numbers, size, aggression)
Vulnerability of casualty and third parties
Environment
Skill level and training
Availability of alternatives (space, backup, verbal)

Remember

Force must stop when threat stops.
Excessive force is assault — even by security.
Document justification for every use of force.

GuardAssist provides operational decision support. It does not replace formal training, employer procedures, assignment instructions or professional judgement. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999.