What does the principle of "use of force" refer to?

The principle of "use of force" primarily refers to the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance from an unwilling subject. This concept encompasses the various techniques and levels of force that officers may employ during an encounter with a suspect to gain control and ensure public safety. The use of force must be reasonable, necessary, and proportionate to the threat faced by the officer or others.

Understanding this principle is crucial because it serves as a guideline for law enforcement officers in balancing the need to take action against a suspect while also respecting the rights and safety of that individual. Standard practices related to the use of force include escalation from verbal commands to physical restraint and, in some cases, the deployment of non-lethal weapons, depending on the individual's resistance and behavior.

In contrast, the other options address different aspects of policing. The escalation needed in a crisis pertains more to tactical decision-making rather than the direct application of force. Legal limits on an officer's authority involve regulations and statutes governing police conduct but do not directly describe the application of force itself. Finally, strategies to de-escalate situations focus on preventing the need for force rather than describing what the use of force entails when compliance is not achieved through less coercive means.