INTRODUCTION The Guidelines for the Effective Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials state that the “definition of law enforcement officials shall be given the widest possible interpretation”.6 This resource book adopts the definition set out in the above-mentioned instruments. However, for purposes of readability, it also uses the term “police” synonymously to “law enforcement officials”. Both terms are meant to cover all personnel involved in law enforcement, from border guards to immigration officials, if those officials are empowered to enforce laws. Whenever members of military forces execute functions of law enforcement, they should comply with the same international human rights laws as law enforcement officials, in addition to their responsibilities under international humanitarian law, where it is applicable. States should also ensure their laws address the use of force by private security providers, who are engaged by the authorities to carry out law enforcement functions, and hold them equally accountable.7 Objectives of this resource book Over the past decades, a number of international standards on the use of force in law enforcement have been developed. The two most commonly cited instruments are the 1979 United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (United Nations Code of Conduct) and the 1990 Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms for Law Enforcement Officials (BPUFF).8 The United Nations Code of Conduct and the Basic Principles both provide guidance to States on the use of force by any law enforcement official, including, but not limited to, the police. This resource book aims to provide further guidance to States on how to implement these standards and translate these instruments into law, policy and practice, and also in the light of standards set by international human rights law.9 This resource book focuses on four aspects of the use of force: • How to use force in conformity with applicable United Nations standards and norms and international human rights law • What can be done to reduce the need to resort to force • How the abuse of force can be prevented • What measures should be taken when unlawful, excessive or arbitrary use of force occurs The resource book restricts itself to examining issues related to the use of force and firearms in the context of law enforcement operations and does not address the use of force that occurs in the conduct of hostilities.10 This resource book offers technical guidance for drafting domestic laws, policies on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement, as well as accompanying sample regulations and standard operating procedures (hereafter “SOPs”), which can then be translated into training and used when drafting tactical plans for specific operations and daily instructions. It draws upon the See E/RES/1989/61 at: https://www.unodc.org/pdf/compendium/compendium_2006_part_04_01.pdf See UNODC Introductory Handbook on State Regulation concerning Civilian Private Security Services and Their Contribution to Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 2014, p. 44. 8  The Basic Principles were adopted by the eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, 1990; and reaffirmed by the GA (A/RES/45/166) during the sixty-ninth plenary meeting on 18 December 1990. 9  See Guidelines for the Effective Implementation of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, Guideline IB(1): Governments shall also promote education and training through a fruitful exchange of ideas at the regional and interregional levels. 10  For more on this, see for example ICRC, Expert Meeting – The use of force in armed conflicts, Interplay between the conduct of hostilities and law enforcement paradigm, 2013, available from: https://www.icrc.org/eng/ assets/files/publications/icrc-002-4171.pdf 6  7  3