Where can I find official UK guidance on police use of force?
Answer
Official UK guidance does not treat aiming rubber bullets at the head as a normal tactic. College of Policing rules require force to be lawful, necessary, reasonable, and proportionate, with warnings given whenever reasonably practical.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Do not ask for or follow advice about harming people; use only official policy documents.
Follow these steps
Open College of Policing guidance
In a browser, go to the College of Policing site and search for use of force or conflict management guidance. Open the official page, not a screenshot or shared link from a stranger.
You should see: You see published guidance that explains when force may be used and the legal tests that apply.
Read the force tests carefully
Look for the requirements that force must be lawful, necessary, reasonable, and proportionate, and for any note about giving warnings when reasonably practical.
You should see: You can summarize the national standard in plain language without relying on rumor.
Check the local force policy
Open the relevant UK police force website and search for its published use-of-force or less-lethal weapons policy for additional local detail.
You should see: You see whether that force publishes extra rules beyond national guidance.
Ignore unofficial tactical advice
If a chat, video, or caller offers unofficial tactics or asks for personal details, stop engaging and stick to official published pages.
You should see: You rely on official sources only and keep personal information private.
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Extra tips
What to look for: Official wording on lawful, necessary, reasonable, and proportionate force, plus any published less-lethal weapons policy for that police force.
Before you change anything: Use only official government or police websites for this topic. Do not treat forum posts or private chats as policy. Do not ask strangers for tactical advice about harming people. Never share personal details with unexpected callers or messages.
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