PART IV.  POLICING SITUATIONS • Under no circumstances should force be used against peaceful demonstrators who are unable to leave the scene. • When an assembly occurs in violation of applicable laws but is otherwise peaceful, non-intervention or active facilitation is generally seen as the best way to respond to ensure a peaceful outcome. • If an assembly has to be dispersed, all reasonable attempts should be made to have participants do so voluntarily. Force can only be used if absolutely needed and only to the minimum extent necessary to achieve a legitimate policing objective. Firearms should only be used to protect against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and only against those violent individuals within the assembly posing such imminent threat. • Mass arrests should be avoided at all times as they fail to differentiate between participants, and may amount to indiscriminate and arbitrary arrests. • When some elements in the assembly behave violently, this does not mean that the whole assembly is to be regarded as violent. Law enforcement officials should continue to differentiate between the violent elements and peaceful protesters, while continuing to facilitate their right to peaceful assembly. • Dispersal of assemblies should not occur unless law enforcement officials have taken all reasonable measures to facilitate and protect the assembly from harm and unless there is an imminent threat of, or actual, violence. • Containment, or “kettling”, is problematic from a human rights perspective, as it may amount to a deprivation of liberty or, inhuman or degrading treatment. • As a general rule, the military should not be used to police assemblies. • Independent monitoring of assemblies can provide an impartial and objective account of what takes place. • Media coverage should be recognized as an element of protection of human rights in the context of peaceful assemblies and protests. • Accountability after the event is essential and any use of force during the policing of assemblies should be documented in detail and reviewed by supervisors. A post-event debriefing between law enforcement officials and assembly organizers is considered good practice. 127