Operational Notification: ON2021-30 - Use Of Force, Including Use Of ‘ground Stabilisation’ Technique, In Immigration Detention; And Procedural Instruction: DM-623 – Detention Services Manual –…

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This operational notification from Australian Border Force (ON2021-30) responds to Commonwealth Ombudsman concerns about use of force in immigration detention facilities during January-June 2020. The notification establishes that no use of force is mandatory and reaffirms that force must be a last resort applied only when reasonably necessary, with a presumption against its use. It specifies that 'ground stabilisation' techniques constitute use of force requiring mandatory incident reporting. Staff must allow detainees sufficient time to comply with lawful directions and apply de-escalation techniques before using force. The notification requires all officers to justify force decisions and mandates mandatory reviews of alleged excessive force incidents through ABF Detention Superintendents. A corresponding Detention Services Manual (DM-623) on Safety and Security Management provides detailed procedural guidance for force application in immigration detention facilities.