Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland13 United Kingdom National legislation does not specify which coercive measures are allowed; those in use are: body cuffs, metal handcuffs, plastic handcuffs, head protection From 1 January 2013, the allowed coercive measures are not specified. Nonetheless, those in use are: metal handcuffs, velcro straps, bite/spit mask, French body cuffs Information not available Handcuffs, French body cuffs, metal handcuffs, plastic handcuffs, velcro straps (metal handcuffs are not allowed) French body cuffs, plastic handcuffs, velcro straps, metal handcuffs Information not available Standard measures used by the Slovenian police: handcuffs, body cuffs, plastic handcuffs, straps. Measures that might be used by the Slovenian police (only in case of unavailability of the standard ones): adhesive tape, belt, straps. Measures used during forced returns: American body cuffs (body cuff with metallic parts), French body cuffs (in velcro), plastic handcuffs Velcro straps, metal handcuffs, body cuffs, head protection Handcuffs. Other measures such as body cuffs, stretchers and hoods, are not explicitly mentioned but admitted During the flight phase: handcuffs NOT in metal (plastic, velcro, laces…), batons. During the transport to the airport metal handcuffs are also used. Returnees may also be tied to wheelchairs if circumstances justify it Information not available The use of coercive measures, as reported by the authorities of the Member States that participated in the research, must be in compliance with human rights, although the critical aspects implied by the use of handcuffs or other permitted coercive measures are subject to the specific attention of monitors. Indeed, recommendations are constantly made on this issue by the bodies responsible for monitoring forced returns in Europe. In Switzerland, for example, in the two-year period 2018-2019, the police withheld from the employment of coercive measures in 48% of cases during transport to the airport. However, it is noted that the use of these measures remains a widespread practice. Also in the UK, the use of coercive measures is cause for concern. During the international transfer phases the escort staff often uses a waist restraint belt that can be used in “restricted” or in “secure” modality. In this second case, the person to be repatriated cannot move their arms. The use of these measures is allowed only if “reasonable, proportionate and necessary”. Although the use of these measures is allowed only if “reasonable, proportionate and necessary”, the UK monitor has highlighted the over-use and prolonged duration of these measures employed also with returnees who do not oppose resistance. The same happens in Spain, where the Defensor del Pueblo has suggested the Police create a logbook to track the use of coercive measures in airport premises, so as to allow verification of the use of these tools during return operations. Returnees usually wear textile ties which are 13 Not a EU Member State but a Schengen country.