Belfort,
I'm guessing that by your comments towards Restraints, that you have witnessed someone applying cuff's in a manner that may have looked a bit rough ?
Which has clouded your view on the use of them. The People that take the time to train in the correct ACPO application of cuff's will only use them in the very extreme case, as one of the other members posted, he has only used them 9 times I think it was in all the years he as been working. My Instructor had only used his in real life 8 times, he had always managed to talk them down or use other holds. the issues arise with people "some" that buy them and slap them on everyone they come across that looks funny at them. these are the people that should not have them.
Like I've said the people that have taken the time to see the correct use, words of command etc etc use of force forms and all that understand the Law.
I have a member of staff who actually cuffed an Off duty Police Officer who was a bit worse for wear one night in a club, he kicked of big time
so he got cuffed, he later asked the lad after tellinf him who he was "who trained you, because that was a very well applied cuff's"
Views and opinions are exactly that views, so don't impose your view that they are not to be used ! They are a tool in the trade of keeping order in a civilised society ! and in the right trained hands are used to great effect.
Basha72