Category: Passive resistance

The audible signs of positional asphyxiation

A man who is dying from positional asphyxiation will not speak at a normal, conversational pace.

He will speak in short, repetitive statements that fade and trail off at the end, in an obvious rhythm matching their short breaths; they are unable to breathe deeply enough to construct a longer sentence.

Typically, they panic and start pleading, their voice cracks and changes pitch, display acute fear and become less coherent over time.

They may make nonsensical statements, begin asking for help from people who are not there, ask for their mother, and so on.

When sudden tranquility follows vigorous resistance, there is an extreme risk of death.

These things emerge consistently during positional asphyxiation, but they are often disregarded or not recognised by police and other workers.

This can happen despite education and training on the matter.

However, the signs are easy to identify once you’ve observed the pattern across multiple incidents in real time and heard it for yourself.

For training and education purposes, this video depicts several instances where men have died in custody after being restrained. Viewers will hopefully notice a pattern emerging in each instance.

The limits of pain compliance

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Pain compliance is quite literally the use of pain as a method to achieve compliance, and discourage resistance and aggressive behaviour. It’s an integral part of any police use of force continuum policies. However, its effectiveness varies greatly depending on the individual’s pain tolerance, mental state, and the intensity of the situation.

Individuals under the influence of drugs, experiencing a mental health crisis, or in a state of excited delirium might not respond as expected to pain compliance techniques. Adrenaline and other physiological factors can significantly diminish pain perception, leading to less effectiveness in gaining compliance and potentially escalating the situation to more extreme uses of force.

Pain compliance is not a substitute for physical control. It should not be seen as a primary strategy but rather a part of a broader set of tactics aimed at safely controlling and detaining individuals.

It’s crucial for law enforcement to have a clear objective when employing pain compliance and to be prepared to shift tactics if it’s not effective.

Continuous application of pain without gaining control can be perceived as excessive and lead to public scrutiny and distrust. In extreme cases, it can lead to serious injury and death, particularly when the subject is of poor health.

Training, skills, fitness and teamwork are the only answer.

The public’s perception of pain compliance is increasingly critical. With widespread access to information and a growing emphasis on police accountability, the use of force is under more scrutiny than ever. Law enforcement agencies need to ensure their personnel are well-trained in a variety of techniques, understand the implications of their actions, and are capable of making judicious decisions in the heat of the moment.

In conclusion, while pain compliance can be a part of law enforcement’s toolkit, it should be used judiciously and in conjunction with other tactics aimed at safely and efficiently resolving confrontations. Continuous training, public engagement, and a commitment to ethical practices are vital in maintaining public trust and ensuring the safety of both officers and those they serve.

How Police Training Got It Wrong: The Failure of Wrist Locks & Armbar Takedowns

Click here or click the image above to watch the video.

00:05 – Intro
01:44 – Citizens arrest a man – what methods do they use?
02:21 – What are wrist locks and armbar takedowns?
03:36 – How do they differ from other methods?
04:10 – Arm drags are not equivalent to armbar takedowns
04:28 – Performance in combat sports
04:44 – So why do police train this way?
06:08 – Why do we teach police this way if it doesn’t work?
07:17 – Fighting is impossible to understand without doing it.
08:14 – Discussing examples
09:41 – Safety concerns
11:43 – Do wrist locks and armbar takedowns have any use at all? 12:41 – What should we teach instead?

Citizens arrest by BJJ black belt – effective control and no injuries

BJJ black belt Idriz Redzovic takes down and controls a man who assaulted staff in a shop. Idriz uses the “gift wrap” method to maintain control for an extended period without any harm to himself or the belligerent man. He hands the man over to police when they arrive without issue.

Methods of control comparison – police vs MMA fighter Matt Serra

The methods used by police in this example are typical of those used by people who have very little grappling experience – holding wrists and pressing down on the head without controlling the body. Two police hold the man who has been arrested for possession of a knife in a public place, while a crowd gathers which becomes a safety concern for the officers. Although the methods used are not causing harm (the suspect is lying on his side rather than face down, most of the officer’s weight is on his own feet and the knee is pressed into the head rather than neck), the knee on the head resembles the George Floyd incident which could quickly incite the crowd to intervene.

It is very likely the man was actively resisting and attempting to escape custody before this video clip starts, however it would not make sense to continue once he saw that a crowd had gathered and was filming. Playing the victim only makes sense, whether it is right or wrong. This video resulted in the police officer being suspended.

Matt Serra, shown in the second video restraining a man who had just threatened restaurant staff and attempted to punch him, sits in the mount position which has the man immobilised. Serra controls the wrists only to prevent him from grabbing and hitting, not as the primary method of control. It also allows the man to breathe and causes very little discomfort.

OC spray, Taser, Baton ineffective against drug affected man

Reluctant to go hands-on, police use their baton, then Taser which fails multiple times. One police officer attempts to knock over the man by rushing at him from behind but ultimately loses control as he stands up. The Taser is used again, then OC spray before the Taser is used once more before the man is taken into custody.

All of the tools police used in this instance depend on pain compliance, apart from the Taser which incapacitates for mere seconds IF the two prongs make contact correctly and in the correct positions on the body. Physical control with grappling techniques may have resulted in a faster and safer arrest, however these officers either lack those skills or were not willing to go hands-on.

Police struggle to arrest man using baton (pain compliance)

The police officer holding the leg of the suspect has been derided many times on the internet. And it does look somewhat comical the way he is dragged around by the suspect.

However, his actions are effective in preventing the suspect from escaping. It is the other officer who should then be taking advantage of this by clinching with the suspect to take him down. Instead, he attempts to use his baton to effect pain compliance which fails. He only continues to use the baton which makes them both look foolish.

This is yet another example of why police need at least fundamental grappling skills, and their training is often not up to the task.