The Danish Prison and Probation Service has discontinued the use of prone leg locks in the country’s detention centers and prisons following a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The controversial technique, which involves restraining an individual face-down with their legs locked, was phased out in 2019.

The decision comes after the ECHR found that Denmark had violated the right to life in a case involving the death of a 23-year-old inmate. In 2011, the inmate died after being held in a prone leg lock for 13 minutes at the detention center in Kolding, subsequently falling into a coma for three days before passing away.

The ECHR ruling stated that the Danish prison authority had failed to establish sufficient and clear regulations for the use of prone leg locks. The court noted a lack of adequate training for prison staff regarding the technique.

The Danish Prison and Probation Service has acknowledged the judgment and confirmed the discontinuation of prone leg locks. Since 2011, the service has been continuously modifying the techniques used during the use of force. In 2015, staff began using controlled lateral positioning to subdue inmates.

Chief Physician Marie Brasholt from Dignity – Danish Institute Against Torture, explains that the prone leg lock method affects central organs by impairing breathing. The individual is restrained on their stomach with their legs locked, which can lead to severe oxygen deficiency, especially in agitated individuals who already require more oxygen.

Brasholt further explains that the use of prone leg locks can overload the body, potentially leading to cardiac arrest. The increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and release of stress hormones can overwhelm the body’s systems.

The Danish Prison and Probation Service has the option to request the case be heard in the Grand Chamber, a higher court within the European Court of Human Rights, within three months.