If risk increases during hard-control techniques, what should you do?

• A. Continue regardless.
• B. Stop if risk increases.
• C. Abandon the subject and leave.
• D. Increase force immediately.

Answer: (B)

In these situations, safety comes first: you must continually assess risk and adjust your actions accordingly. If risk increases during hard-control techniques, you should stop the technique and reassess the situation. Pausing helps prevent injury, allows you to regain control with the least amount of force necessary, and opens the door to safer options like de-escalation, verbal commands, or disengagement if needed. Once the risk is mitigated, you can re-evaluate and decide the safest way to proceed, rather than forcing through a heightened-risk moment. Continuing with the same or increased force when danger has escalated typically makes the situation worse, which is why stopping to reassess is the correct approach. Abandoning the subject or immediately increasing force would not be appropriate responses in most cases, as they either leave safety considerations unresolved or further heighten risk.