PART III.  INSTRUMENTS OF FORCE suffice, if it is not accompanied by measures to implement it and ensure compliance, most notably training, planning, proper instructions and accountability. 5.6.  Protective gear, communication equipment and self-defence Governments and law enforcement agencies do not only have obligations towards members of the public, but also towards their own staff. An underlying notion of the Principles as a whole is that law enforcement officials are entitled to be properly trained in how to analyse a situation and prevent escalation, use effective communication techniques and de-escalate a situation, and if use of force is required, they should be trained how to do so appropriately and in line with international norms and standards. In addition, knowing how to protect oneself and one’s colleagues, not only may help save the lives of others, it also serves to save the lives of the officials affected. The same applies to having good equipment. As the ICRC stated: “equipment, in particular protective gear and communication devices, is key to maintaining control over a situation and averting violence”.156 Protective equipment Recognizing that law enforcement officials sometimes have to operate in potentially dangerous, and at times life-threatening, situations, they should be adequately protected and provided with self-defensive equipment. Principle 2 of the BPUFF requests States to provide equipment such as “shields, helmets, bullet-proof vests and bullet proof means of transportation”. This is to protect law enforcement officials, while at the same time decreasing the need for using (lethal) force, hence protecting the life of all involved. The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions refers to the experience in Northern Ireland where, after police officers had been issued body-length shields and fireproof overalls, there was a drastic reduction in the use of force.157 Communication equipment In some countries law enforcement officials are sent into dangerous zones, where there is a high incidence of violent confrontations, without the possibility of communicating with one another. In such a situation, when an official is confronted with potential danger, he or she could be more likely to use his or her gun, or other types of force, simply to protect him or herself, because of the impossibility of calling for a backup. Indeed, in addition to protective equipment it is important to provide law enforcement officials with relevant and properly functioning communication devices, so that they can call for backup when needed, inform their superiors about developments on the ground, and share information with colleagues. Effective communication in dynamic situations is also essential to ensure that all officers involved in the operation are aware of up-to-date information and that confusion, which could lead to overreactions or misuse of force, is minimized or eliminated. In addition to guaranteing effective communication between law enforcement officials of the same unit or agency, it must be ensured that different agencies involved in an operation, as well as medical emergency services, can communicate smoothly with each other. See ICRC, 2011, p. 18. See Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, A/HRC/17/28, 23 May 2011, para. 104. 156  157  73