Regulations Regarding the Types of Special Means and the Procedures by Which Soldiers shall Possess, Carry and Use Special Means

Issued pursuant to
Section 14, Paragraph four
of the Military Service Law

1. This Regulation prescribes the types of special means, which a soldier performing active service is entitled to use during peacetime, as well as the procedures by which such special means shall be possessed, carried and used.

2. The National Armed Forces are allowed to use the following special means during peacetime:

2.1. means of binding;

2.2. handcuffs;

2.3. arm and leg irons;

2.4. truncheons;

2.5. electric shock devices;

2.6. tear-provoking substances (gas sprays, gas grenades);

2.7. means of restricting vision;

2.8. devices for spraying or firing irritating or paralysing substances;

2.9. means for restricting the movement of persons;

2.10. means for forcibly stopping vehicles;

2.11. means for forcibly stopping watercrafts;

2.12. devices for firing such elements, which are not intended to cause lethal consequences (for example, devices for firing gases, special paint, rubber);

2.13. smoke candles;

2.14. smoke grenades;

2.15. light and sound grenades;

2.16. rubber pellet grenades;

2.17. light and sound devices of psychological effect;

2.18. breaching devices;

2.19. means for demolishing obstacles;

2.20. portable water spraying devices;

2.21. means for neutralising improvised explosive devices;

2.22. water cannons;

2.23. vehicles equipped with water cannons;

2.24. watercrafts equipped with water cannons.

3. If special means are necessary for the performance of a specific task, they shall be issued to a properly trained and prepared soldier for possession, carrying and usage.

4. A soldier shall store the special means referred to in Sub-paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of this Regulation in a closed cabinet or a room (storeroom or depository) providing such storage conditions that prevent access to the special means to other persons. The other special means referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Regulation shall be stored in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations, which determine the procedures by which material and technical means shall be stored.

5. A soldier depending on the task received shall carry the special means referred to in Sub-paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of this Regulation on the belt in a manner that does not attract attention of other persons, or in the special pockets of the accoutrement vest. The other special means referred to in Paragraph 2 of this Regulation shall be carried according to the task received and considering the transfer features of special means.

6. A soldier shall take an independent decision to use the special means referred to in Sub-paragraphs 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 of this Regulation in a particular situation.

7. A decision to use the special means referred to in Sub-paragraphs 2.3, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16. 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.23 and 2.24 of this Regulation for carrying out of a particular task shall be taken by the Commander of the National Armed Forces or an official authorised the Commander by issuing an order.

8. An oral warning shall be given to a person prior to the use of special means.

9. Special means may be used without a warning in cases where a delay in the use thereof causes direct threats to the life or health of a person or may cause other serious consequences, or if such warning is not possible in the particular situation.

10. Means of binding, handcuffs, arm and leg irons shall be used in case if it is necessary to tie or lock arms or legs, or arms and legs of a person simultaneously.

11. When using means of binding, handcuffs, arm and leg irons, it shall be ascertained that a person cannot free himself or herself from them.

12. If a person is being transferred under the supervision of security guards in a vehicle, his or her hands shall be bound or locked by handcuffs at the front, but, if a person is being transferred under the supervision of security guards on foot, his or her hands shall be bound or locked by handcuffs behind them.

13. The means of binding or handcuffs shall be removed from a person:

13.1. during a visit to the toilet;

13.2. when the person being transferred is handed over into the supervision of other security guards, except cases where means of binding are used;

13.3. if there are threats to the health or life of the person.

14. It is prohibited to keep hands of a person bound or locked by handcuffs for more than two hours at a time.

15. If a person under the supervision of security guards is being transferred on foot and the air temperature is below 0°C, it is not permitted to use the means of binding or handcuffs for longer than:

15.1. one hour if the air temperature is not below minus 10°C;

15.2. half an hour if the air temperature is below minus 10°C.

16. In the cases referred to in Paragraph 14 and Sub-paragraphs 15.1 and 15.2 of this Regulation the means of binding or handcuffs shall be taken off for a period of time from 15 to 20 minutes.

17. A truncheon, which is a cudgel with or without an extra handle, shall be used if it is necessary to ward off an attack by a person or to stop his or her resistance to lawful requests of a soldier. It is prohibited to use a truncheon if the resistance of a person to lawful requests of a soldier manifests itself as passive resistance.

18. It is prohibited to use a truncheon for hitting the head, neck, abdomen or groin.

19. An electric shock device shall be used if it is necessary to temporarily paralyse a person or animal by means of high-voltage electric charge.

20. It is prohibited to direct an electric charge at the head, groin or heart area.

21. A gas spray shall be used if it is necessary to temporarily disorientate or paralyse a person or animal with liquefied gas.

22. It is prohibited to use a gas spray near an open flame.

23. Means for restricting vision, which are opaque woven articles adapted to the eye form of a person, shall be used if it is necessary to disorientate a person.

24. Devices for spraying or firing irritating or paralysing substances shall be used if it is necessary to temporarily disorientate or paralyse a group of persons or an animal with liquefied gas.

25. It is prohibited to use devices for spraying or firing irritating or paralysing substances near an open flame.

26. Means for restricting the movement of persons shall be used if it is necessary to hinder the motion and movement of a person, a group of persons or an animal with nets, ropes, adhesive substances or foam, which are fired from special devices.

27. It is prohibited to direct adhesive substances and foam at the head of a person.

28. Devices for firing such elements, which are not intended to cause lethal consequences, shall be used in cases if it is necessary to temporarily disorientate or mark a person or a group of persons with pyrotechnic or pneumatic charges, which upon detonation direct traumatising elements or elements containing paint.

29. It is prohibited to use devices for firing such elements, which are not intended to cause lethal consequences, at locations where there is a production unit or a warehouse of inflammable, explosive, toxic or highly hazardous substances, as well as to aim at the head or groin area of the person.

30. Means for forcibly stopping vehicles shall be used if it is necessary to stop a vehicle, by causing mechanical damage to the tyres or to the undercarriage.

31. Means for forcibly stopping watercrafts shall be used if it is necessary to stop a watercraft, by causing damage to its mechanical parts.

32. It is prohibited to use the means for forcibly stopping vehicles referred to in Paragraph 30 of this Regulation:

32.1. for stopping an engine powered two-wheeler or three wheeler, as well as a quad-cycle;

32.2. on sections of roads with restricted visibility, which is less than 100 m in one direction, on an ascending road or a descending road, on railway crossings, in tunnels, on bridges, trestles, flyovers, as well as at locations where the use of such special means may threaten persons not involved in the violation of the law, by causing a road accident.

33. Smoke candles shall be used if it is necessary to disorientate a person or a group of persons or force them to leave a specific territory.

34. Smoke grenades, gas grenades, light and noise grenades, as well as rubber pellet grenades shall be used in case if smoke, irritating and paralysing substances, light and noise effects or directed rubber elements, which result from explosion thereof, temporarily disorientate, have a psychological effect or temporarily paralyse a person or a group of persons.

35. Light and sound devices of psychological effect shall be used if it is necessary to temporarily disorientate or psychologically affect a person or a group of persons, or an animal, with ultrasound or a great noise.

36. Breaching devices shall be used if it is necessary to enter closed territories, buildings and premises.

37. Means for demolishing obstacles are vehicles or devices (including water cannons for destruction of obstacles) the technical construction of which is designed to demolish various obstacles.

38. Portable water spraying devices shall be used if it is necessary to prevent ignition of persons or objects and perform extinguishing during group violations of public order or during mass disorders.

39. Water cannons or means of neutralising improvised explosive devices shall be used if it is necessary to neutralise various types of improvised explosive devices.

40. Vehicles and watercrafts equipped with water cannons shall be used if it is necessary to stop group violations of public order or mass disorders, demolish obstacles or establish passages through them with a high pressure water jet.

41. A soldier shall use special means taking into consideration this Regulation insofar as it is not in conflict with instructions of the manufacturer for application of special means.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis

Acting for the Minister for Defence, Minister for Health Ingrīda Circene

Translation © 2014 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)