Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [ESRC Future Research Leader
Award, PI Abi Dymond, grant number ES/N016564/1] and the Omega Research Foundation (under a
project funded by the European Commission – European Instrument for Democracy & Human Rights
EIDHR). It was co-authored by Dr. Abi Dymond, Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Exeter, and
colleagues at the Omega Research Foundation. The Omega Research Foundation is an independent
UK-based research organisation. We are dedicated to providing rigorous, objective, evidence-based
research on the manufacture, trade in, and use of, military, security and police (MSP) technologies.
The publication was strengthened by feedback and suggestions from participants at a series
of events where draft versions of the Guide were presented, including:members of the UN
Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture during their 32rd Session (June 2017); participants
at the Association for the Prevention of Torture, Bristol Human Rights Implementation Centre and
Penal Reform International Summer School on Detention Monitoring: Applying the UN Nelson
Mandela Rules (August 2017); and from Stephanie Selg and Anita Danka at the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. All errors and omissions are the responsibility of
the authors.
Note on translation: to aid understanding, translations into French and Spanish have included the
translations of quotes from various sources, some of which were initially available only in English.
The Guide is intended to be a living document and comments and suggestions for additions are
welcome to be sent to; info@omegaresearchfoundation.org or a.dymond@exeter.ac.uk
Part funded by the European Union
EIDHR European Instrument for
Democracy and Human Rights.
Cover Photo: a spiked baton, serrated thumb-cuff and fixed restraint single cuff, designed to be affixed to walls and floors.
Copyright: Omega Research Foundation.
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