Less lethal weapons: a technologist's perspective

TLDR

The paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of the technical, operational, and management issues involved in developing, acquiring, or using less lethal weapons for law enforcement, providing scientists and engineers with insights into the complexities and challenges of producing effective, safe, affordable, and practical weapons. The authors derive their insights from a thorough review of the literature and active participation in conferences, technical working groups, and peer‑review panels on less lethal weapon technology. The review identifies essential attributes and practical considerations for acquiring and using less lethal weapons, helping law enforcement and corrections agencies make informed decisions, serving as a starting point for developers, and educating non‑technical professionals about the challenges of producing weapons that are effective, safe, affordable, and practical.

Abstract

Purpose To provide a comprehensive picture of the wide range of technical, operational, and management issues that must be considered when developing, acquiring or using less lethal weapons for law enforcement agencies. Design/methodology/approach The source of the insights provided in this paper come from a careful reading and critique of the less lethal technology literature and the organization of and participation in many less lethal weapon technology conferences, technical working groups, and peer review panels. Findings The essential attributes of less lethal weapons for law enforcement applications are described as well as the many practical considerations that must be made when acquiring and using them. Practical implications This review should help law enforcement and corrections agencies make more informed decisions on the acquisition and deployment of less lethal weapons and should also be a useful starting point for weapon developers. Originality/value Scientists and engineers seeking to develop new or improved less lethal weapons for law enforcement will benefit from having in one source a basic insight into the complexities and challenges of producing a successful less lethal weapon. Non‐technical professionals will gain a greater understanding of the difficulty in producing less lethal weapons that are both very effective and very safe, but also affordable and practical.