A Global Lethal Force Monitor: Comparative Opportunities and Challenges
Comparison across jurisdictions is one way of assessing the appropriateness of lethal force resulting from the actions of law enforcement agencies. This article sets out a vision for a global use of force monitor that can enable meaningful comparisons between law enforcement agencies. It examines some of the opportunities and challenges associated with developing such a monitor in relation to the legal frameworks in place governing use of lethal force; how official state agencies record and respond to deaths; and the contexts for the use of lethal force.
- Author
- Jasper de Paepe
- Date
- 28 September 2022
This article examines some of the opportunities and challenges associated with international comparisons between law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and aims to set out the case for, and possibilities around, a global lethal force monitor. Additionally, the authors examine how a monitor could make meaningful comparisons related to: the legal rules in place governing LEAs use of lethal force; the policies and practices in place in LEAs and other official state agencies for recording and responding to deaths; and the contexts for the use of force. Additionally, they set out further opportunities and challenges associated wiht the creation of a global monitor. They extend these publications by putting them in the context of other comparative work and setting out a more comprehensive rationale for, and next steps toward, the creation of such monitor.