Kerala Police Issue New Guidelines on Handcuffing Suspects

The Kerala Director General of Police directed officers to exercise discretion and respect human dignity when deciding whether to handcuff a suspect. The guidelines state that handcuffs must not be used deliberately to humiliate a person. Officers must consider factors such as the suspect’s age, health and the circumstances of the case. Police will also be required to inform the relevant court about the conditions and reasons that made the use of handcuffs necessary.