Sir Robert Peel’s 9 Principles of Policing – Principle #6

I am continuing my series of articles about Sir Robert Peel’s 9 Principles of Policing.  The second principle speaks directly to the use of police force.

Today, my focus is on Principle #6.

Principle #6

To use physical force only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient to obtain public co-operation to an extent necessary to secure observance of law or to restore order, and to use only the minimum degree of physical force which is necessary on any particular occasion for achieving a police objective.

The use of physical force by law enforcement is one of the most misunderstood responsibilities of law enforcement.  Citizens view law enforcement’s use of force as something done to them, while law enforcement views police use of force as a necessary tool on their tool belt.

On top of the differing views, many police uses of force are viewed by many as having a disparate impact on minorities. 

Even with these differences of opinion, all sides would agree that the less physical force law enforcement has to use, the better.

History of Use of Force

In the mid-1800s, as police departments formed in cities, there was no national police force similar to England.  Therefore, police officers only had jurisdiction in their city, yet criminals followed no boundaries.

Police use of force became a way of controlling people and preventing crime.  This view of how to manage crime led to the evolution of the “tough street cop” who used physical punishment as a primary tool for enforcement. [i]

In the late 1800s, politicians used the police to exert political control, especially with immigrant populations. [ii]

The police acting under various names, including even the military, used force to enforce Jim Crow laws, displace the Native Americans, and otherwise suppress multiple groups of people across the country. [iii]

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the police were used to suppress primarily African Americans and others who were interested in civil rights for all.  The police met many of the protests with violence.

In 1963, Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech.  As part of this speech, King said, “We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of unspeakable horrors of police brutality.” [iv]

Although there are still challenges today regarding police use of force, there is little doubt that modern police officers are better trained and educated than at any point in history.

De-Escalation

Peel’s principle is really addressing de-escalation.  By exercising persuasion, advice, and warning, Peel suggested that police officers should do everything within their power to avoid using force. 

Although the words de-escalation hadn’t been invented yet, the concept was there in 1829.

In recent years, de-escalation training has been implemented in agencies across the country.

In 2018, the Governor of Georgia mandated four hours of de-escalation training every year for all State peace officers.  A requirement for de-escalation training has been implemented in other states as well.

One of the most outstanding de-escalation training examples was Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) training developed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). 

ICAT is designed to equip police officers with the tools they need to safely defuse a wide range of critical incidents. This training is especially helpful in situations involving unarmed people experiencing a mental health crisis. [v]

Also, officers understand the concept of creating time and distance to de-escalate encounters, which is a newer concept.

Mental Health Crisis

According to CBS News, a study by the Treatment Advocacy Center finds that approximately 25% of fatal encounters with law enforcement involve a person experiencing a mental health crisis. [vi]

Other studies and reports have found similar results.

Fortunately, law enforcement today has tools, in addition to de-escalation training, to help them interact better with those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Crisis Intervention Team training has been delivered to thousands of police officers across the country.  This 40-hour training class has been widely implemented and accepted. 

One study found that CIT trained officers were able to negotiate better, were less likely to arrest people, and were more likely to make a mental health referral than officers who were not CIT trained. [vii]

Restoring Order

There has been a lot of order disturbed in 2020.  The riots that spread across the country after the death of George Floyd were unprecedented.  Complicating the police response to these riots was the fact that the protests were directed at the police.

Therefore, police officers were in a challenging position.  If they exercised proper control over the rioting groups, they could very well be accused of using excessive force.  If they showed too much restraint, they could be accused of not doing their job.

Peel made it clear that the police should only use force when all other alternatives have been exhausted.

Police officers today are fortunate.  Unlike their counterparts in Peel’s time, they have a variety of less-lethal options they can use. Instead of resorting to physical force when a person refuses to cooperate, other options are available.

Pepper spray, electronic control devices, pepper balls, bean bags, and various other less-lethal options are available. 

Minimum Level of Force

When I started my law enforcement career almost 40 years ago, we documented our uses of force in our reports with the statement, “only the minimum force necessary was used to affect the arrest.” Little did I realize that statement had its origins with one of Peel’s principles.

Of course, that statement makes a lot of sense.  Yet, an idea only tells part of the story.  The actions behind that statement tells the real story.

By consistently using the minimum force necessary when force has to be used, police officers gain the trust and respect of the citizens they serve.

Conclusion

Police use of force has been under extreme scrutiny of late, unlike at any point in history.  George Floyd’s death and the protests that followed have caused law enforcement to examine their policies and search for solutions that will help them do their job better while protecting the public.

Law enforcement must accept the closer scrutiny of police use of force and acknowledge we don’t always get it right.  Additionally, law enforcement must take proactive steps to reduce police use of force. Force must only be used in appropriate situations.

Even in 1829, Sir Robert Peel understood the public’s fear of the police using physical force when it was unnecessary.

That fear continues today.    

[i] https://www.britannica.com/topic/police/English-and-American-policing-in-the-late-19th-century

[ii] https://www.britannica.com/topic/police/English-and-American-policing-in-the-late-19th-century

[iii] https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/07/20/the-invention-of-the-police?irclickid=0fq0L6TKoxyOT3EwUx0Mo3YQUkEya3wRyQZvxk0&irgwc=1&source=affiliate_impactpmx_12f6tote_desktop_adgoal%20GmbH&utm_source=impact-affiliate&utm_medium=123201&utm_campaign=impact&utm_content=Online%20Tracking%20Link&utm_brand=tny

[iv] https://time.com/5882308/march-on-washington-police-brutality/

[v] https://www.policeforum.org/icat-training-guide

[vi] https://ibpf.org/how-mental-illness-affects-police-shooting-fatalities/

[vii] http://jaapl.org/content/early/2019/09/24/JAAPL.003863-19

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