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Police Use of Non-lethal Weapons: Analysis of Real Cases

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Human Factors and Mechanical Engineering for Defense and Safety Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The PAB or “Peloton Anti-Banditisme” has been created in 1976 on the same model as the Los Angeles Police Department SWAT. The PAB is the local special police unit of the Liège Police Zone. In terms of non-lethal equipment, the unit is equipped with the FN303 rifle, OC spray, and batons. This article provides a comprehensive presentation of case reports where non-lethal weapons have been used. Eighteen cases of FN303 uses (more than 200 impacts) combined with baton and OC spray populate the database today. These cases are described and ballistically defined, and a medical outcome is given. The article helps to better define the potential limits (injuries) of non-lethal impacts. It gives some insights about the consistency between standardized laboratory tests and the real-world experience. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these systems is portrayed and discussed.

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Notes

  1. R90 is the radius of a circle within which statistically 90% of the missiles/projectiles are expected to fall (adapted from [3])

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Weapons Systems and Ballistics, Royal Military Academy, 30 avenue de la Renaissance, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    A. Papy, C. Robbe & N. Nsiampa

  2. Department of Pathology, CHU- Domaine Universitaire du Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium

    E. Lemaire

  3. Peloton Anti Banditisme, Special Unit of Liege Police, Liege, Belgium

    D. B. & P. H.

Authors
  1. A. Papy
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  2. E. Lemaire
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  3. C. Robbe
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  4. N. Nsiampa
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  5. D. B.
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  6. P. H.
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Correspondence to A. Papy.

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Papy, A., Lemaire, E., Robbe, C. et al. Police Use of Non-lethal Weapons: Analysis of Real Cases. Hum Factors Mech Eng Def Saf 3, 9 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41314-019-0025-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41314-019-0025-5

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