ASSAULT

LEGISLATION

THREAT OR ACTION

Assault is the threat of physical violence, (violence includes any unlawful touching). For example, shaking your fist at someone in a threatening way is assault. Assault has come to mean the threat and the action.

SELF DEFENCE

Self defence is also a defence to a charge of assault. You are entitled to use reasonable force to defend yourself, your property or another person. What is reasonable depends on the circumstances of the case. If your life is being endangered, whatever force is necessary to stop your attacker would be reasonable.

In all cases of assault, the self defence response must conform with the Law. The Law basically says that a person must only use such force as is necessary to `nullify' an attack. The important word here is `nullify'. This simply means to render an attack ineffective.

It goes without saying that the force needed to nullify an attack would be related to the force and nature of the attack itself. In the simplest sense, this means that when fending off a ten-year-old child one does not use the same force as would be required against a sixteen-stone body builder.

TYPES OF ASSAULT

USE OF FORCE

Due to the fact that you supervise juveniles, not adults, more is expected of the professional youth worker in their interactions with the clients/Clients. At any time in a Juvenile Justice Centre or in conveyance you may only use minimal force to:

LEVELS OF RESPONSE

Each category of assault has a different level of response. Each officer should understand all the different levels of assault and what is required using the least minimal force to regain control of a person or situation.

The most common motives for assaultive behaviour are Fear,

Manipulation, Frustration and Intimidation. However, this is only the most common. The reasons that people can become violent are endless.

OUTLINED

One other motive I feel should be listed which is usually overlooked is STRESS. Let's face it, stress has been experienced by us all one way or another.

Stress is an emotional state which can produce the same physical reaction as fear. Here is an example of physical arousal generated by mental stress.

Most of us may find mental arithmetic boring, though few of us would perceive it objectively as threatening. But Dr Fred Imms at RAF Chessington can demonstrate that mental stress of this kind is as threatening (physically) as the real danger of parachuting or being attacked by a lion.

Dr Imms carried out a controlled test in which his subject, who was lying down in physically non-stressful circumstances, was asked to subtract seven from nine hundred and ninety nine successively and continuously. The subject's heart rate was monitored, and rose from 75 at the beginning of the test to 114 at the end. The state of a body's preparedness for fight or flight can be displayed on a device called a plethysmograph, which is attached to the subject's leg, and measures its volume of blood.

During the mental arithmetic the body displayed signs of preparing for instant flight, like a gazelle pursued from a lion.

So pure mental stress can induce the physical characteristics of real danger.

To effectively control an violent situation and end it as quickly as it began, you should intervene the moment you believe the Client will strike or as the assault occurs.

When you sense any change in temperament or a Client displays aggressiveness immediately notify other staff members verbally or by way of a duress alarm. Know the whereabouts of all alarms.

Quickly scan the immediate area to analyse the type of threat and the reaction of Clients not involved.

Look at getting other staff members during talk down to quietly move other Clients from the area. You do not want any bystanders getting involved.

During confrontation with a violent person do not become complacent or over-confident. No one is indestructible.

Use your voice, or duress alarm if available, to attract the attention of other staff members in the event of an impending assault.

Never under-estimate your opponent regardless of size, sex or age.

Maintain distancing with the aggressor. The more distance, the more reaction time. Use speed as your ally.

Use your focus and peripheral vision.

Do not show aggression, remain calm throughout the ordeal.

Do not intimidate

Use your casual, non-aggressive, all-round protection stance

Get out of an area that is deemed un-controllable if all staff are able to and wait for reinforcements. Do not leave a staff member behind.

DEFENCE AGAINST ASSAULT

When standing before an aggressor maintain good posture and balance. Be ready to move on the balls of your feet and be aware of your exposed points. (See Figure 1)

Move in shuffles to the side of an oncoming attack, and redirect. It is only natural we try and move backwards making it easy to trip and fall

Remember to move sideways, not backwards.

It is generally very difficult to evade a punch so if by chance you are struck with one, move in the direction of the blow, to soften impact.

When redirecting a strike, move to the side and clasp hold of the limb and apply a wrist lock or arm bar.

Watch for the movement of the shoulder muscle or a movement of a leg using your peripheral vision, indicating a strike from the hands or legs.

Once a limb is extended toward you, step to the side on an angle, not back, re-direct the blow, capture the limb, applying a hold or manipulate the limb above the joints such as elbow or wrist. (See Figures 2 and 3)

Do not forget to use your focus and cover yourself against other possible threats.

Use a takedown, foot-sweep or limb manipulation to control the aggressor toward the ground, maintaining pressure on the limb.

Once on the ground, lying on his/her front, direct the Client to cross their legs (as to impede their manoeuvrability)

Check the small of the back for any weapons, or lock pick items.

Direct the Client to place his/her free hand behind their back. Maintain the pressure until they comply.

Apply the handcuff to this arm and then bring the manipulated wrist to the small of the back and apply the cuffs.

When you have a arm extended toward you, parry and re-direct their arm from the inside of your centreline outward. If you are caught by an aggressor, remember the hand's weakest point is the thumb. Move your captured limb up toward the thumb, twist and break free. (See Figure 4)

If however you are captured from behind in a head-lock or bear hug first think and apply the appropriate technique demonstrated to you during the workshop.

NOTE: When you are grabbed and feel unable to stop the assault, move in as close to the attacker's body as possible to minimise the blows or grasps.

SELF CONTROL

YOUR OCCUPATION

You are employed in an area that may require physical intervention where and when it is necessary, at a moments notice. Working with juvenile offenders and/or adults is a demanding job for you and your work colleagues.

When placed in a volatile situation, that is rapidly diminishing, you will be required to defend or intervene to protect yourself, another Client or staff member against assault.

Understandably, people will look critically at your performances especially when dealing with children. Although looking at most of these children you would think that they are adults or you are shrinking when comparing their height and weight ratio.

You must display self-control to these young impressionable minds. If you lose control and act in an irrational manner toward them, they will lose faith in the system you are striving to promote. As they say, you paint everyone with the same brush.

 CONFRONTATION

You will find that during conflict, when you lose control, the Clients will spot this weakness. When being confronted you must maintain a cool, calm and collective attitude.

Do not get angry or frustrated with a Client no matter how badly he/she misbehaves. If you do it will jeopardise all further negotiation. Keep calm.

Remember to maintain a good posture, breath deeply, relax and use your body talk techniques. To the Client it would display self-confidence.

BALANCE

At all times maintain your balance. Do not stand crossing your legs or off balance. You should move in uniform, even strides and use fighter shuffles when required and by maintaining good posture and balance you will be able to move quickly.

The trunk of your body should be directly above your hips and your feet should be about a foot shoulder width apart.

FOCUS

ATTENTION

The ability to focus is possibly the most important ability of the human mind. Focus implies focusing attention.

We are capable of looking at a landscape as a whole and admire its setting as a whole and then be able to focus on the shape of the trees, the colours of the hillside, the shape of the clouds.

From our ability to focus has come our habit of analysis. In order to be able to focus we have to build up patterns of acceptance for what we see.

ANALYSIS

To effectively see what is going on around you, you must first analyse your current surroundings by focusing your attention, not on the aggressive person, but the whole area.

Then by ascertaining the threat potential, i.e. other Clients in the area, perhaps furniture that may be used as a weapon, or other staff members that can physically watch your back, you may then focus on the threat.

However, do not maintain your focus on the threat totally. Every five seconds or so scan your surrounds and if it is not possible use your peripheral vision.

PERIPHERAL

Peripheral vision is when you can look in a certain direction and detect movement from the corner of your eyes. Look at a point on the wall and now stare at it. Without changing your focus or the point you are looking at (don't move your eyes) how much can you see to the sides? Pretty far huh! This is using your peripheral vision which will aide you immensely in volatile situations especially when multiple assailants are involved.

When standing in front of a aggressive person, look him in the eyes when possible for talk down purposes, but when the situation has escalated maintain your focus in the upper chest region. With correct use of your peripheral vision you may detect a foot being kicked out toward you. You can notice the shoulder muscles contract as he commences to throw a punch to your face. You will notice people moving up from your side.

Focus, if used correctly, will give you an extra second to react which is better than a fraction of a second. Remember, looking into the eyes at this point of the assaultive cycle is pointless as he cannot hit you with his eyes.

TEAM WORK

GENERAL GUIDELINES

While negotiating with the Client and you believe that he/she is displaying unstable and erratic behaviour, verbally or non-verbally, immediately have other staff members be present

A team is co-operative workers acting as a single unit. Therefore communicate with each other before, during and after the conflict.

With other staff members present ensure that you, the initial communicator, is the ONLY ONE WHO TALKS with the Client.

If you are unsure as to whether you are capable of effectively negotiating with him/her, nominate a TEAM LEADER, usually the best negotiator.

Team members should follow the instructions of the team leader.

Team members should not argue amongst themselves.

Team members spread-out, gradually, in CASUAL MOVEMENTS.

Team members must not display any body talk signals of aggression or readiness i.e. AGGRESSIVE POSTURES. Don't worry, the Client will be consciously and/or sub-consciously aware of your presence. Do not intimidate.

Maintain the CORRECT POSTURE and BALANCE at all times

Good POSTURE shows confidence.

Do not INTIMIDATE or show an AGGRESSIVE stance as it helps prevent the FEAR emotion from surfacing.

Don't get COMPLACENT at any time, be alert and watch for signs of aggressive behaviour

When faced with an incident COMMUNICATE and work as a TEAM.

Continue with the rapport, talk down and reasoning powers. Maintain a CALM MANNER at all times.

All team members should display signs of EMPATHY for the Client, thus silently helping the team leader by backing up his negotiation.

Be CONFIDENT, breath deeply and relax. Maintain SELF-CONTROL.

PLACEMENT

To effectively control a hostile environment, each team member must position themselves to their assigned placements.

When you have only two team members present, the leader positions himself to the front of the aggressive person. The second member positions himself to the rear, left or right angle to the aggressive person.

When three team members are present, the leader adopts his negotiator's position and the other two members take the opposite rear sides of the aggressive person.

When four members are present, you may position yourselves in the four corners around the aggressive person.

INITIATING

When your team leader has come to the decision to intervene you will all move in unison taking your nominated body part. What I mean by this is that each member is assigned a section of the body such as legs, trunk or arms.

When you intervene, the quicker you are the least chance of injury will occur. Speed is essential.

Later, you may develop your own standard operating procedures as to who will have which section. The usual procedure is the rear person will have the lower body when there is only two officers present.

WARNING: This is not to be a football tackle, you are to use extreme caution as to the amount of force used. Imagine the rear left person coming in hard and the front person coming in as hard.

TECHNIQUE

When a person is being grappled with, you should use that persons clothing if possible for better control and grip.

Control by using limb manipulation and pressure holds.

(See Figures 5 and 6)

Remember when holding someone down, and it was not possible to apply a pressure hold to contain them, you are aware of not restricting their breathing by crushing their rib cage.

Only use enough weight to prevent them from getting up. Allow for small movements to allow the circulation to continue.

Do not hold people down by putting a knee in their back or across any part of the body. Be aware of their spinal cord and neck.

LIMB MANIPULATION

With the varying incidents involving Clients in assaultive behaviour it is necessary to capture the wrist, arm or leg and twist it, applying pressure above the joints in a sideway or downward motion to control that person.

A person throwing a punch would be encouraged to over-extend, usually by the defender's use of distance. When this happens, quickly evade the punch with a hip-twist and seize the extended fist before it can be withdrawn. Once seized, twist the wrist to a compliance hold bringing the Client to his knees, then ground.

At times you will use an elbow lock where fitting. An elbow lock applies pressure against the normal direction of movement. The idea is to force the elbow to the ground while twisting the wrist. (See Figure 7)

HOLDS

PRESSURE HOLDS

With the size of some of the Clients and some smaller staff, it is necessary to develop techniques that will enable them to subdue a much larger and physically more powerful person without the use of deadly force. One source of such techniques can be found in `Atemi-waza' the ancient oriental method of nerve point or pressure point manipulation.

By applying pressure to certain points on the human body, pain can be safely used in order to make a suspect comply with your wishes. These `points' cannot be strengthened against attack such as muscles can. Even physically powerful persons will still succumb to pressure properly applied and have no more resistance to the pain generated than the average person.

The ideal approach is to use a pressure point to put the subject off guard before the main technique is applied.

WEAPON DEFENCE

Effective responses must be developed to armed attacks that will allow an officer to defend themselves properly.

Weapons can take the form of anything that can be picked up. Be aware of your environment and remove anything that can be used against you, within reason that is.

ACTION

When a weapon is produced, do not play the hero, be wise and get out of range. Get assistance.

If a weapon is directed toward you use evasive self-defence maintaining distance. It cannot be stressed enough that a `safety zone' between you and your aggressor must be established and maintained.

If you have to, the simplest way of disarming your attacker is to attack the hand holding the weapon as to deprive him of its use. (See Figure 8)

Stay on the balls of your feet and move backwards, forwards and sideways if need be. Do not trip.

When the weapon is swung, wait until it crosses the assailants centre line on the back-hand ONLY. Then move in to grasp the wrist of the hand holding the weapon and twist it out of his grasp, then applying a wrist lock. (See Figure 9)

HANDCUFFING

Handcuffs are recognized as a very reliable, temporary restraining device when properly used, but are not to be used in long-term immobilisation of a Client. When someone has a record of violent behaviour it is a precautionary measure to apply handcuffs for transport to protect the officer from possible attack and helps prevent escape.

A high percentage of arrest/transportation related injuries occur whilst applying and removing handcuffs from detainees. Basically it is due to the misunderstanding of handcuffing techniques resulting in loss of control.

Handcuffing Techniques

The key to the safe application of handcuffs is verbal and physical control. This is displayed by the following non-aggressive handcuffing situation;

Points to Remember

INJURED OR MULTIPLE PERSON RESTRAINING TECHNIQUES

On rare occasions, you may be required to restrain more than one person with minimal handcuffs available or even perhaps an injured person. On these occasions common sense prevails and your quick decision is significant. The following points are for your perusal as added intelligence only.

INJURY

If by some reason your Client has an existing injury or has attained one from struggling it is best to handcuff hands to the front. Here you can reduce the risks of front cuffing somewhat by turning his belt so the buckle is in the rear. Then pass the cuffs through the front of the belt and cuff him with his palms out. This keeps his arms comfortably close to his body and lessons his ability to attack. There is not too many kids that wear belts so carry a spare in your transit vehicle and in the office.

With the Clients side by side, order the one on the right to bring his right hand behind his back. Turn his palm out and attach the cuff, then pass the free end of the handcuffs through his belt. Now have the second Client bring his right arm to the rear. Attach the cuff to his right wrist. This leaves both Clients in a somewhat awkward position, lessening their chance of running or co-ordinating arm movement.

HANDCUFFING TWO CLIENTS WITH TWO PAIRS OF CUFFS

In this instance you are concerned with the Clients after attempts to abscond and due to lack of staff to effectively control the situation, you are required to limit their mobility. To effectively carry this out you must cuff the first subject with his hands behind his back, palms out. Then have the second suspect interlock his right arm through the other's left arm before you handcuff him in the usual palms-out manner.

Handcuff the first Client to the rear, palms out. The right arm of the second suspect is then interlocked through his left arm. Now use your second set of cuffs to handcuff the wrist of this interlocked arm to the wrist of the third suspect's right arm. When they're locked together, all the suspects should be facing in the same direction.

Transport is still possible using these methods. Regardless of how cooperative he or she may be, never handcuff a Client to yourself.

These tips are to be used to broaden your knowledge of handcuffing techniques.

SUMMARY

To effectively regain and maintain control of a violent client it is necessary for you to quickly and quietly restrain that person thus minimising injury to you, the client or bystanders.

Only when the client initiates the assault are you permitted to bring these passive restraint techniques into play.

These methods should only be used as a last resort and are designed to keep you within the guidelines of acceptable professional practice.

The use of any technique other than those demonstrated may place you outside legislation governing use of force, thereby rendering you liable to prosecution.

The need to practice these skills is vital to your professional competence.

Attendance at refresher courses will maintain these skills at a high level.

Photos not scanned yet

Non-Aggressive Defensive Stance

Pressure Hold (Frontal Approach)

Pressure Hold (Side Approach)

Defence Against A Punch

Defence Against A Weapon (Method One)

Defence Against A Weapon (Method Two)