Page 20 - Top Cover Issue 8

20 TOP COVER ISSUE 8

SCIENCE ON THE STREET

each individual is exposed to threatening time compression potentially biases Dr Martin Fackler spent a lifetime
but compelling situations. What is clear decision-making. as a surgeon and expert in ballistic
from research conducted within threat Both internal and external feedback trauma in both the military and police.
environments is that firearms officers available to the officer in the middle of He retired as the Head of the Wounds
narrow their attention, exclude irrelevant a violent confrontation may lead to a Ballistic Laboratory at the Letterman
peripheral detail and frequently fixate on determination that the most appropriate Army Medical Centre. Fackler offers
a specific threat cue. means of neutralising threat is through this advice to firearms officers: “The
Realistically this means that it is highly firing additional shots. This may occur officer has no way of determining if
likely that officers exposed to more than since there may be no time available to an assailant is about to immediately
one attacker will fixate upon the first cover and then confirm the intentions collapse or continue his actions for
threat and remain momentarily unaware of any wounded terrorist, due to the 4,5,10 or more seconds. The only
of the second threat, especially if the first proximity of a second imminent threat. indicator is the assailant’s response: as
subject remains a viable aggressor. long as he continues to be a threat, the
Many officers may think that training officer should continue to fire until
to engage multiple attackers leads to … the use of excessive he can perceive that the assailant is no
faster reactions and ingrains ability to force maybe absolutely longer capable of continuing their life
multi-task and divide attention. To a threatening actions. The implications of
certain degree this appears to be true but necessary and could this information are not trivial.”
only with regards to delivery of motor Facing multiple attackers places
skills such as movements and use of the be the only reasonable any individual in the most cognitively
weapons. Creativity for problem solving solution to protect and demanding scenario imaginable. Whilst
remains situation specific alongside the science may be able to offer some insight
officer’s mental state and understanding. save lives. into the likely performance difficulties
The flip side of this type of skills officers may encounter in a Charlie WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN! * WIN!
training is that inflexibility can occur The circumstances I describe will be Hebdo style attack, it remains to be seen
with regards decision-making. Studies seen by some as extremely controversial, if lawyers and media representatives
that have looked at the development and may appear to stand totally outside will take into consideration those same
of automaticity highlight that many of ACPO’s advice regarding the use of cognitive and physiological responses
individuals have reduced neural lethal force since: “Officers must be when drawing their own judgmental
activation in the problem solving area of able to demonstrate that the degree of conclusions ■
the brain despite having developed faster force used was absolutely necessary and
reactive abilities. relative to the threat posed. The use of
Now consider the potential confusion excessive force is strictly prohibited.”
and cognitive demands generated by However, in my opinion, in very limited
having to engage multiple attackers. circumstances the use of excessive force
Attacks such as the one in Paris with may be absolutely necessary and could be
two or more marauding terrorists are the only reasonable solution to protect
anticipated to be quick, violent and and save lives.
demand immediate armed resolution.
Since it is not possible to determine
for how long an armed subject remains
capable of delivering lethal force despite
having already received a fatal wound,
every firearms officer has no way of
determining when instantaneous collapse
and incapacitation will occur. Covering
the subject to determine their intentions
could prove lethal in close proximity to
a second attacker since it draws specific
visual attention away from another life
threatening assailant.
Time pressure
places a great
limitation
on cognitive
flexibility when
engaging two or
more lethal threats;