Abstract

Performance of police work includes everyday contact with citizens. The majority of those contacts are peaceful, but, unfortunately there are contacts that are not peaceful and result into dissatisfaction which later is manifested in verbal, physical or armed resistance by the citizens. The fact that the police is involved in everyday contact with the citizens should reduce the possibility of inadequate behavior of the police officers, which is important for effective performance of their professional duties, in compliance with the laws. This means that the process of detaining persons should be performed in a serious manner with the application of all security measures which are in accordance with the given situation. In practice, the police mainly detain persons in cases when they collaborate, give passive or active resistance or when they perform armed or non-armed attack. In order for the police to reasonably assess the situation and react in the process of detaining persons the model of use of force is used. The theory of the application of this model is based on the principle of “control” and it offers directions for adequate and proportionate response of the police in the use of force.