RCMP not banning controversial neck hold despite instructions from minister

The RCMP says it will keep instructing its officers to use the controversial carotid control technique in rare cases, despite direction from the federal government to ban the use of neck restraints in all circumstances.

The carotid control hold involves compressing the arteries on either side of a person's neck, causing the person being restrained to slip into unconsciousness.

When used correctly, the restraint doesn't restrict breathing, but its use has come in for heightened scrutiny in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody in 2020.

In his mandate letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki last year, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino asked her to prohibit "the use of neck restraints in any circumstance and the use of tear gas or rubber bullets for crowd control."

A spokesperson for the RCMP told CBC News Wednesday that the national police force has "not banned or placed a moratorium on the use of the carotid control technique." 

Instead, Robin Percival said the RCMP issued new guidance to its officers late last year that "strengthens and clarifies definitions, oversight and accountability measures, the risks of applying the technique on medically high-risk groups, requirements for medical attention, the threshold for use and requirement to recertify annually on the policy regarding application."

Alexander Cohen, a spokesperson for Mendicino, said the minister gave Lucki "clear instructions."

"Our expectation is that the commissioner remains committed to implementing these reforms, that the RCMP strives to set the gold standard when it comes to use of force and that it advances the reforms necessary to maintain the confidence of all Canadians," he said.

"As we begin 2023, we are following up with the RCMP and all our portfolio agencies to receive updates on the many important items in their mandate letters."

The RCMP Act says the commissioner serves "under the direction of the minister" and "has the control and management of the force."

The RCMP has defended the carotid hold as safe, effective and rare. It said its policy limits the use of the technique to situations where an officer fears grievous bodily harm or death for themselves or others.

The force said the carotid control technique was used 25 times in 2020 and 14 times in 2021 by its members.

According to documents obtained through an access to information request last year, between 2017 and 2021 the RCMP recorded six occasions when someone had to be taken to hospital following the application of a carotid hold — three in 2018, one in 2019 and two in 2020. 

Percival said the RCMP's new carotid restraint policy includes a section that says that if the subject isn't compliant after 20 seconds, the officer should end the restraint hold. Mounties are also now expected to request a medical health assessment as soon as possible following the application of the carotid control technique.