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understanding of crowd behaviour, and the methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation, as well
as to technical means, with a view to limiting the use of force and firearms. Law enforcement agencies
should review their training programmes and operational procedures in the light of particular incidents.
21. Governments and law enforcement agencies shall make stress counselling available to law
enforcement officials who are involved in situations where force and firearms are used.
Reporting and review procedures
22. Governments and law enforcement agencies shall establish effective reporting and review
procedures for all incidents referred to in principles 6 and 11 ( f ). For incidents reported pursuant to
these principles, Governments and law enforcement agencies shall ensure that an effective review
process is available and that independent administrative or prosecutorial authorities are in a position to
exercise jurisdiction in appropriate circumstances. In cases of death and serious injury or other grave
consequences, a detailed report shall be sent promptly to the competent authorities responsible for
administrative review and judicial control.
23. Persons affected by the use of force and firearms or their legal representatives shall have access to
an independent process, including a judicial process. In the event of the death of such persons, this
provision shall apply to their dependants accordingly.
24. Governments and law enforcement agencies shall ensure that superior officers are held responsible
if they know, or should have known, that law enforcement officials under their command are resorting,
or have resorted, to the unlawful use of force and firearms, and they did not take all measures in their
power to prevent, suppress or report such use.
25. Governments and law enforcement agencies shall ensure that no criminal or disciplinary sanction is
imposed on law enforcement officials who, in compliance with the Code of Conduct for Law
Enforcement Officials and these basic principles, refuse to carry out an order to use force and firearms,
or who report such use by other officials.
26. Obedience to superior orders shall be no defence if law enforcement officials knew that an order to
use force and firearms resulting in the death or serious injury of a person was manifestly unlawful and
had a reasonable opportunity to refuse to follow it. In any case, responsibility also rests on the
superiors who gave the unlawful orders.
1/ In accordance with the commentary to article 1 of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the term
"law enforcement officials" includes all officers of the law, whether appointed or elected, who exercise police
powers, especially the powers of arrest or detention. In countries where police powers are exercised by military
authorities, whether uniformed or not, or by State security forces, the definition of law enforcement officials shall be
regarded as including officers of such services.