Hand-held Kinetic Impact Weapons 3.3 SPIKED SHIELDS AND OTHER SPIKED ARMOUR Key Technical A flat, convex, or concave shield with spikes attached to the face. Features Body armour, such as arm guards, with protruding spikes. The use of spiked shields or spiked armour amounts to excessive force Human Rights Concerns or cruel or inhuman treatment, possibly amounting to torture, as they cannot be used without inflicting excessive and unnecessary pain. Their use fulfils no legitimate law enforcement purpose that cannot be achieved through less harmful means. Statements and Standards from Human Rights Bodies Examples of Existing Controls Special Rapporteur on Torture: spiked shields are listed as a type of inherently cruel, inhuman or degrading weapon. 90 The EU Anti-Torture Regulation prohibits the trade in spiked shields. Manufacture should be prohibited. Proposed Control Transfer should be prohibited. Use should be prohibited. UN HRC, Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment: note / by the Secretary-General, 2017, para. 51. 90 69