65 Telescopic / extendable batons A straight baton and side-handle baton • “ Law enforcement officers should always use restraint and assess whether raising a baton causes the desired effect, without the need to hit the person; • Care should be taken not to hit someone on the head or at body parts with vital organs, including the kidneys or the groin area. Other risk areas are the joints, which can easily be damaged or even broken, shins, ankles, the back due to risk of spinal injury, the neck and the sternum; and • W here a law enforcement official has hit someone repeatedly, or whilst on the ground, this may amount to excessive force and should be investigated as such.” 100 100 UNODC & UN OHCHR, Resource Book on the Use of Force and Firearms in Law Enforcement, op. cit., note 2, p. 81.