Using Handcuffs for Effective Restraint
When a police officer takes a suspected criminal into custody, one of the first things he or she must do is restrain that suspect.
Handcuffs are the most common way of doing so, and are almost always used during an arrest.
However, there has been some concern over the past several years that lawbreakers will continue to find ways to escape from their handcuffs after they have been restrained.
Though this doesn't occur on a regular basis, the argument is that these escapes take place too often.
And it is an argument that is proving to be very strong.
In order to understand the function of handcuffs, it is important to trace their origin.
The modern handcuff used by police officers today dates back to the late 1800s, when an inventor by the name of W.
A.
Adams patented the design.
The objective of Adams was to create a set of wrist-cuffs with prongs that, when closed, would automatically lock, and could only be opened by using a small key.
This proved to be an effective way to restrain subjects being placed under arrest, held for questioning, or who were combative.
While the handcuffs of today are somewhat different in appearance, the basic design has not changed much over time.
A few modifications have been made to the shape of the key, as well as to the shape and size of the cuffs, but the internal locking system has remained the same since its invention by Mr.
Adams.
The purpose of handcuffs, too, has remained the same: to help detain a subject in times of need, to guard the safety of police and civilians, and to allow a police officer to continue to do his or her job while keeping a suspect in custody.
Over time, the question has arisen of whether or not handcuffs prove effective in highly volatile situations.
While many suspects do not resist arrest or act combative, some suspects do require tougher restraint.
Which is why, in recent years, various handcuff manufacturers have begun creating new designs for handcuffs.
Several companies have built their designs around a concept of strength and complexity: if the lock is harder to manipulate, and if the material used to manufacture the cuffs is stronger, subjects will be less likely to escape.
Under this theory, new and innovative types of handcuffs are now being developed.
Modern handcuffs for a modern generation of lawbreakers, these restrains make escape nearly impossible for even the most ingenious of criminals.
Handcuffs are the most common way of doing so, and are almost always used during an arrest.
However, there has been some concern over the past several years that lawbreakers will continue to find ways to escape from their handcuffs after they have been restrained.
Though this doesn't occur on a regular basis, the argument is that these escapes take place too often.
And it is an argument that is proving to be very strong.
In order to understand the function of handcuffs, it is important to trace their origin.
The modern handcuff used by police officers today dates back to the late 1800s, when an inventor by the name of W.
A.
Adams patented the design.
The objective of Adams was to create a set of wrist-cuffs with prongs that, when closed, would automatically lock, and could only be opened by using a small key.
This proved to be an effective way to restrain subjects being placed under arrest, held for questioning, or who were combative.
While the handcuffs of today are somewhat different in appearance, the basic design has not changed much over time.
A few modifications have been made to the shape of the key, as well as to the shape and size of the cuffs, but the internal locking system has remained the same since its invention by Mr.
Adams.
The purpose of handcuffs, too, has remained the same: to help detain a subject in times of need, to guard the safety of police and civilians, and to allow a police officer to continue to do his or her job while keeping a suspect in custody.
Over time, the question has arisen of whether or not handcuffs prove effective in highly volatile situations.
While many suspects do not resist arrest or act combative, some suspects do require tougher restraint.
Which is why, in recent years, various handcuff manufacturers have begun creating new designs for handcuffs.
Several companies have built their designs around a concept of strength and complexity: if the lock is harder to manipulate, and if the material used to manufacture the cuffs is stronger, subjects will be less likely to escape.
Under this theory, new and innovative types of handcuffs are now being developed.
Modern handcuffs for a modern generation of lawbreakers, these restrains make escape nearly impossible for even the most ingenious of criminals.
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