Instruments of restraint and the conditions for their use are defined in the Police Act. Instruments of restraint may only be used when a police officer while performing police tasks utilises one of the instruments defined by law for exercising direct control over an individual. Pursuant to the Police Act, the Police are entitled to use the following instruments of restraint when performing their tasks:

  • instruments of constraint such as handcuffs and other mechanical restraints,
  • gas spray,
  • physical force,
  • baton,
  • gas and other instruments of temporary incapacitation,
  • water cannons,
  • mounted police units,
  • special motor vehicles,
  • service dogs,
  • means for halting vehicles by force and
  • firearms