removed at take-off. The Spanish monitoring body also reports it has noticed that handcuffs are used in all flights having Morocco as final destination and that it is awaiting a response from the Directorate General of Police on this point. Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Finland state that the use of coercive measures must take place according to the criterion of individual risk assessment and as a last resort, and requests that any “questionable” use be reported. The Cypriot Ombudsman noted the disproportionate use of coercive measures due to the inconsistency of reasons given based on the individual assessment of some forced return operations. Recommendations were therefore made to the Chief of Police to ensure that escorts strictly adhere to international standards. In Slovakia, the use of handcuffs is ordered in all cases that present risk of escape during predeparture operations. Only in one of the cases monitored handcuffs were not used. In Slovenia, no case of employment of coercive measures has been reported while in the experience of the Maltese monitor the use of coercion has always been in line with the Frontex Code of Conduct. The Greek police systematically apply metal or velcro cuffs for preventive reasons in general, but also without specific concrete and detailed risk assessments. On The coercive nature of forced return operations and, this point, The Greek Ombudsman in extreme cases, the justification of the use of force has made several with people who have no criminal liability, impose a recommendations. series of obligations on the State Authority aimed at Also according to the Italian ensuring that this limitation, when allowed, is National Guarantor the imposed in full respect of fundamental human rights. predominant critical factor The Italian National Guarantor has repeatedly detected in the monitoring reported the habit of using velcro straps to tie the activity is the use of coercive force wrists of returnees also for many hours by escorts, and in particular the indiscriminately and also in instances that are not of use of velcro straps: this tool openly uncooperative behaviour. cannot be used if there is no In the framework of the guarantee instruments that resistance by the returnee or a must be adopted, the training of escort operators reaction of violence, in the plays a leading role, since the task of protecting the absence of which it is a violation of dignity and physical integrity of returnees while also human dignity. It is noted that guaranteeing effectiveness of the operation falls on velcro straps are often used them. systematically and in a Finally: it has been reported that in particularly generalized way, regardless of the complex operations, law enforcement officers film behaviour of the individual the most critical operations with video cameras so returnee. This preventive way of that operators are protected in the event of reports using this tool is strongly and for the purpose of greater control over the choice criticized by the National to use coercive measures. Guarantor, as well as the use of the French body cuff (a belt with various straps that allows to block arms and legs). For both coercive measures, the monitor is required to observe and take note of the duration of the use of the measure and of the ways in which it is applied. Also, on the occasion of total immobilizations of the person, in particularly critical circumstances, the doctor from the State Police should always be present.