Shoot-to-Kill Revisited


Bruce Schneier has already written about the police "shoot-to-kill" policy in the UK in response to the terrorist bombings last month, explaining why it's a bad security trade-off. Now the International Association of Chiefs of Police have issued new guidelines that also recommend a shoot-to-kill policy.

What might cause a police officer to think you're a suicide bomber, and then shoot you in the head?

The police organization's behavioral profile says such a person might exhibit "multiple anomalies," including wearing a heavy coat or jacket in warm weather or carrying a briefcase, duffel bag or backpack with protrusions or visible wires. The person might display nervousness, an unwillingness to make eye contact or excessive sweating. There might be chemical burns on the clothing or stains on the hands. The person might mumble prayers or be "pacing back and forth in front of a venue."

Is that all that's required?

The police group's guidelines also say the threat to officers does not have to be "imminent," as police training traditionally teaches. Officers do not have to wait until a suspected bomber makes a move, another traditional requirement for police to use deadly force. An officer just needs to have a "reasonable basis" to believe that the suspect can detonate a bomb, the guidelines say.

Does anyone actually think they're safer if a policy like this is put into effect?

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2005/08/shoot-to-kill_r.html

Posted: Thu - August 4, 2005 at 11:00 AM          

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