What's the protocol when police use cs gas? are they supposed to warn you before they spray it?

Question

are they supposed to warn other members of the public in the immediate area (small enclosed area) before spraying? so they could leave.

Answer 1

Yes they are supposed to warn the person that they are after that they will use CS gas if they don't do whatever they are asking them. If you are in the vacinity of the scuffle, then that is your lookout.

Answer 2

There is no protocol for UK police to issue a warning before deploying captor or CS.

The obvious reason for this is that the offender will then turn away or cover there face.

Although the situation of chidren or elderly people in the same room or in the next room as the offender is not a ideal situation to deploy captor/cs in, if the choice to use captor/cs was needed then the offender was likely to be at risk of injuring himself, a officer or another person in the room and it was considered the safest option at the time.

The other option would be for the officer to use his baton which is seen as  higher esclulation of force and offers a higher chance of causing permnanent injury or death to the offender.

So as you can see from what you described yourself that the use of captor/CS was the safest option for all, given the risk assesment at the time which the officer only has seconds to do.

Answer 3

Generally speaking the police wouldn't give a warning prior to using gas. Likewise common sense dictates that if there are members of the public in close proximity, then you need to assess whether to use it or not, based on the risk assessment at that time.

If someone were likely to get seriously injured by this male then a member of the public suffering the effects of CS gas is a trade off that you might have to accept. I know it is far from ideal, particularly with it being a young child.

Without knowing the full circumstances it is difficult to really comment.

Answer 4

According to the act of decleration section 5.2.156.783.2354 they have to warn you before they spray CS gas.

Answer 5

It depends. If you advance towards the officer, they will use it immediately, the same way they would tase or shoot you if it was necessary. In a standoff situation however, you would receive a warning, they would most likely give you the option to surrender.

Research "use of force continuum" if you want to learn more.

Answer 6

if circumstances permit they will issue a warning, if not they will spray first if there is a serious threat

Answer 7

Depend on whats going on, and how fast they needed to use it. Plus what were you doing being so close? If you seen things were getting out of hand, it's time to step away! You know they have to do things to keep not only them selves from being hurt, but also so others don't get hurt also. And no they don't have to give a warning. When you see someone pull out a gun, what do you do, just stand there? You better take cover! Same as when they started to pull out their spry

Answer 8

Why should they.  If the person is doing something wrong they deserve to be sprayed.  As in previous posting, if person concerned or onlookers haven't got the sense to clear the area, then they deserve to  suffer the consequences !!

Answer 9

Anybody with a l**k of sense would leave the area a cop is wrestling with a knucklehead.  But usually you try to convince the idiot to relax so you don't spray,because you usually get spray on you or your friends.

For most when there is a scuffle with police and an officer withdraws his spray it is accepted as the universal sign to run.

Answer 10

Congratulations this has to be the daftest question I have seen on here.

Imagine a large drunk male with a broken bottle in his hand confronting a female officer.....What would you do?