5.2.1.2. Manufacture and promotion of fixed or weighted restraints by CoE companies Although fixed-position restraints may be improvised, bespoke fixed-restraints have also been manufactured and traded by companies in the CoE region. Such devices for use on prisoners can be clearly distinguished from other forms of restraint designed for medical or other legitimate use. The European Commission has recognised that “using mechanical restraints such as handcuffs in order to shackle a prisoner to a fixed object anchored to either a floor, wall or ceiling is not an acceptable restraining technique.”190 Consequently, in July 2014, EC Regulation 1236/2005 was amended to prohibit the import or export into or from any EU Member State of restraints specifically designed for shackling prisoners to fixed objects. 191It is unknown whether any non-EU CoE member States currently control or prohibit the trade in such devices. The Omega Research Foundation has uncovered certain fixed restraints which have no legitimate law enforcement purpose. This includes certain hand or leg restraints designed to be attached to fixed objects that have been manufactured or promoted at some stage since 2012 by companies in the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Russian Federation. Special Material Corporation (Russian Federation) A Russian company, Special Materials Corp., has manufactured and, as of November 2017, promoted the BCS-1 "Prikol" bracelet (see below), which incorporates a single handcuff and a “stationary fastening in the form of an achor bolt”. According to the company it “allows you to restrict freedom of movement, [the prisoner being] securely chained … to the wall.”192 Images BCS-1 "Prikol" bracelet (above); BCS-1 “Bouquet(below). All taken from Special Materials Corp. website, November 2017 190 European Commission, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 775/2014 of 16 July 2014. European Commission, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 775/2014 of 16 July 2014. 192 BCS-1 "Prikol" bracelet, NPO-Special Materials Corporation, http://www.nposm.ru/specialnye_sredstva/naruchniki/bks-1_prikol/ (accessed 16 November 2017). 191 39

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