Personal Entertainment v Personal Safety?

In an era where technology is intertwined with daily life, headphones and earphones have become daily accessories. 24+ per cent of people choose to wear headphones for a significant portion of their day. They provide an immersive experience for music, podcasts, and phone calls, serving as both entertainment and a buffer against the outside world. However, this convenience comes with … Read more

Clearing the Air

Among the concerns of using physical intervention, several long-standing misconceptions persist, contributing to dangerous misunderstandings and potentially lethal situations. One of the most prevalent misunderstandings is the belief that if someone can talk, they can breathe. This misconception has led to tragic outcomes, particularly in cases involving physical restraint, where individuals have died due to insufficient oxygen intake despite being … Read more

Safeguarding Schools across the Scottish Borders and Beyond

Whilst UNISON survey exposes ‘shocking’ levels of violence in Borders schools, are things any different in your area? 85 per cent of respondents reported experiencing/witnessing slapping or punching – that figure rose to 88 per cent regarding kicking incidents. More than 55 per cent of respondents said they experienced violence multiple times a week. In recent months, the Scottish Borders … Read more

Elevating and Setting Standards in Aggressive Behaviour Management

The recent BBC Disclosure programme, shown on 5th February 2024, brought to light the need for continued expertise and experience in preventing and managing aggressive behaviours. The programme featured the review into one of Scotland’s most high-profile deaths in prison custody (2015) cases at the Fatal Accident Inquiry which followed. Physical intervention is a very contentious issue and will always … Read more

Observation – A Crucial Perspective In The Use of Physical Intervention

Up to the year ending March 2023 overall there were 2.1 million offences against the person recorded.  This was a 20% rise compared with the pre-covid pandemic year ending March 2020. Violence with injury was 6% higher (573,791 offences) than levels recorded in the year ending March 2020 (540,870 offences). Violence without injury increased by 14% to 828,673 offences compared … Read more

How The Great British Post Office Scandal (and Others) Can Affect You

I am sure that you are aware of the Great British Post Office Scandal. It has been described by the Criminal Cases Review Commission as “the most widespread miscarriage of justice ever seen and represents the biggest single series of wrongful convictions in British legal history”. The Post Office is owned by the Government and it is a unique institution … Read more

Breaking News – A Person Being Restrained Now Can’t Die from Excited Delirium!

As reported in the New York Times on the 11th October 2023, “California has become the first US state to ban the use of “excited delirium” as a cause of death, rejecting a term that prominent medical associations have said is rooted in bias and is often used to justify the deaths of people in police custody”. The New York … Read more

Self-Defence and Honestly Held Belief

Let’s have a look at this complex legal dilemma Self-defence is a fundamental concept in criminal law, allowing individuals to protect themselves or others from imminent harm and danger. However, there are situations where the use of force in self-defence results in the death of another person. In such cases, the law often hinges on whether the defendant genuinely believed … Read more

The Importance of Qualified Physical Intervention Trainers

Physical intervention trainers play a pivotal role in teaching individuals how to respond effectively and safely to challenging situations. These trainers should possess recognised qualifications in conflict management, physical intervention, teaching, and assessment, all of which are essential for providing comprehensive and effective training. Moreover, maintaining accreditation through annual refreshers and recertification is not just a professional commitment; it is … Read more

Unveiling The Physiological Reactions to The Anticipation of Danger

In a world where survival has always been paramount, our bodies have evolved intricate mechanisms to respond to threats and dangers. When faced with violence and aggression, our ancient survival instincts kick in, triggering a cascade of physiological reactions. From the release of a complex chemical cocktail to the activation of the well-known fight, flight, or freeze response, our bodies … Read more