60 Police officers with protective equipment in Quebec City, Canada, 7 June 2018, ©ODIHR A law enforcement officer with riot-control shield, body armour and helmet A law enforcement officer with riot control helmet and body armour Riot-control body armour ployment of protective equipment may often constitute a good practice, and its availability is an important aspect of the principle of precaution. In the context of a public assembly, law enforcement authorities need to consider how the use of protective equipment will be perceived by people, and any potential reactions it might trigger, including that it may raise tensions. For instance, in some situations the deployment of a line of officers bearing shields may provoke violent reactions and disorder.88 On the other hand, actions such as removing helmets or 88 ODIHR, Human Rights Handbook on Policing Assemblies, op. cit., note 2, p. 76.