When protests broke out after a police officer shot an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri in August, police in camouflage gear wielding assault rifles and stun grenades drove through the city in armored vehicles attempting to control the crowds. In the wake of the protests, Reuters photographed police officers around the world and asked them when they're legally permitted to use force to control crowds. While answers varied, most officers responded that their use of force must be preceded by a warning and proportional to the resistance they encounter.
-In Italy, police must follow guidelines that allow for the use of weapons only in the line of duty, when it is an "unavoidable necessity to overcome resistance, stop violence, or prevent a [serious] crime," an officer said.
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-Afghan police "can use weapons or explosives against a group of people only if it has ... disturbed security by means of arms, and if the use of other means of force ... has proved ineffective," Afghan police officer Zabiullah, 24, said. Police must also issue at least six warnings — three verbal and three warning shots — before they use force.
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-In Bosnia, police say they may use force ranging from batons to chemical irritants, water cannons, "binding agents, special firearms and explosive devices." They must issue a warning first, however, and can't use force against the young, old, or disabled (unless they are armed).
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-The Indian Rapid Action Force responds when violence breaks out that the police can't contain. A magistrate must consent to their deployment, and they are required to warn crowds before they escalate their use of force from tear gas and rubber bullets to firearms.
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-When violence erupts in Mexico City, the police apply a progressive scale of force much like the one used by the Indian RAF. They must first issue verbal warnings and try to contain protestors' movement. If that doesn't work, they may use non-lethal incapacitating weapons. Police use firearms and lethal force only as a last resort.
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-British police guidelines state that the "lethal or potentially lethal force should only be used when absolutely necessary in self-defence, or in the defence of others against the threat of death or serious injury."
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-In Austria, police are only allowed to use force when less dangerous methods appear inappropriate or have proved to be ineffective. Police have to issue a warning before they use force, and they must also make an effort to avoid seriously injuring anyone where possible.
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-Venezuelan police are not allowed to carry firearms at all when patrolling peaceful demonstrations. If violence erupts or order is threatened, police are instructed to warn crowds or demonstrators that there will be a "progressive, differentiated use of force." Officers must try to avoid harming children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
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-While Belgian police are allowed to use lethal force in self-defense or to confront armed perpetrators, they are never allowed to use firearms for the purpose of crowd control, according to human rights monitors.
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-Malaysia's public order police, the Federal Reserve Unit, are only allowed to use firearms if the protestors are using firearms, too. The FRU was formed 59 years ago and firearms have never been used.
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*SEE ALSO: 13 Photos From The Protests In Ferguson, Missouri, You Won't Believe Happened In The United States Of America*
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