What defines reasonable force in policing?

Prepare for the Police Standards and Training Council (PSTC) Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Reasonable force is built on the idea that an officer may use only the amount of force that is proportional to the threat and necessary to achieve a legitimate objective under the circumstances. In practice this means evaluating what is known at the time, the seriousness of the offense, the immediacy of any threat, and whether the person is resisting or attempting to flee. The force used should be the least amount required to safely control the situation while accomplishing the lawful goal.

This is why proportionality and necessity best describe reasonable force. It isn’t about subduing someone as quickly as possible, nor is it limited to self-defense, since officers may need to use force to effect an arrest or prevent harm. It isn’t correct to say force is justified only when a firearm is involved, because many situations call for nonlethal or intermediate force options.