Public Order Manual Poman 1971 ~repack~ Site

Overview — Public Order Manual (POMAN), 1971

The Public Order Manual (commonly called POMAN) is the Philippine police manual first issued in 1971 that sets procedures for crowd control, dispersal of assemblies, checkpoints, arrests, searches, use of force, and related public order policing tactics. It has been a foundational operational directive for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and predecessor police forces; several later revisions, contested amendments, and legal challenges followed its initial 1971 issuance.

1. The Graduated Response (Minimum Force)

A central tenet of POMAN 1971 is the concept of Minimum Necessary Force. The manual dictates that force should only be used when absolutely necessary and should be proportionate to the threat level. It outlines a graduated scale of response:

• Presence: The visual display of police authority (uniforms, formation).
• Verbal Communication: Using dialogue, negotiation, and warnings to disperse crowds.
• Tactical Maneuvers: Using formations to contain or channel the movement of crowds.
• Non-lethal Intervention: Use of riot control equipment (shields, batons, water cannons) only when property is being destroyed or lives are threatened.
• Lethal Force: The last resort, used only in self-defense or to prevent imminent loss of life.

What Remains?

Several chapters of POMAN 1971 were copied verbatim into the 1999 manual, particularly: public order manual poman 1971

• The Escalation Ladder.
• The 5% Rule (now statistically validated by academic research).
• The formations (though “Snatch” is now called “Extraction Team” for PR reasons).

Thus, anyone who fully understands POMAN 1971 understands the tactical foundation of most Western democratic police forces today.

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Use of Chemical Agents

POMAN 1971 provided expanded guidance on the deployment of CS gas (tear gas). Overview — Public Order Manual (POMAN), 1971 The

• Previous protocols were restrictive; the 1971 manual expanded the circumstances under which CS grenades could be launched.
• It included instructions on wind direction, safe distances, and the medical aftercare of those exposed, acknowledging that CS gas would be used as a primary area-denial tool rather than a last resort.

2. Core Tactical Innovations

The 1971 manual introduced several tactical concepts that differed from previous standard operating procedures.

1. Historical Context

By 1971, Northern Ireland was descending into deep sectarian conflict and civil unrest. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) found itself overwhelmed by widespread riots, protests, and paramilitary activity. The existing public order tactics, largely inherited from standard UK colonial policing methods, were deemed insufficient for the scale of violence in cities like Belfast and Derry. Presence: The visual display of police authority (uniforms,

POMAN 1971 was introduced as an urgent update to police doctrine. It marked a shift from community-based policing to a more militarized, structured approach to crowd control. The manual was classified as "Secret" or "Restricted" because it detailed the specific maneuvers and rules of engagement for confronting rioters, revealing police weaknesses and tactical plans that could be exploited by opposing groups.