Torturkomiteen henstillede i 2008 blandt andet til, at politiet kun benytter
håndjern efter en konkret vurdering, og når dette er oplagt nødvendigt

  

Af advokat Claus Bonnez, formand for Landsforeningen KRIM

27. december 2009

Den 25. september 2008 offentliggjorde Den europæiske torturkomite (the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)) en rapport over sit besøg i Danmark i perioden fra den 11. til den 20. februar 2008.

Af præmis 11 i rapporten fremgår vedrørende det danske politis brug af håndjern blandt andet følgende:  
 
  "..As regards handcuffing during transportation, it should be resorted to only when the risk assessment in the individual case clearly warrants it and be done in a way that minimises any risk of injury to the detained person. .."
 
I Justitsministeriets svarskrivelse af 23. februar 2009 skriver ministeriet, at politifolk blandt andet undervises i, at brugen af håndjern skal være "nødvendig" ("necessary"). Af skrivelsens side 5 (over midten) fremgår blandt andet følgende: 
 
  - handcuffing during transportation should be resorted to only when the risk assessment in the
individual case clearly warrants it and be done in a way that minimises any risk of injury to
the detained person (paragraph 11).
As regards handcuffing during transportation, please be informed that the use of handcuffs is also
covered by the general principles for the use of force in the Police Act described in the Government’s
response above.

All police officers are as part of their basic education at the Police Academy of the Danish National
Police instructed in the proper use of handcuffs. The contents of courses are based on the provisions
in the Police Act concerning the use of force, and it is taught that the use of handcuffs must be
necessary and justified and that they may only be used to such an extent as is reasonable with regard
to the interest which the police are seeking to protect.

Accordingly, handcuffs may for example be used to prevent an attack on police officers or others, to
protect the arrested person from further escalation of the situation or to prevent the escape of a detainee.
During transportation of a detainee where the use of handcuffs is necessary, the police officers
should make sure that the detainee is seated in a way that makes the use of handcuffs as convenient
as possible, and during transportation over longer distances, the police officers should consider
the possibility of using an alternative solution.