This thesis examines how international human rights principles regarding the right to life, encapsulated in legislation, jurisprudence, and guidance have influenced the development of policy and practical decision-making, on when and how lethal force options should be deployed by police officers in three jurisdictions - Northern Ireland, London and the Republic of Ireland. Using Foucault, Weber and Nietzsche to provide the theoretical basis, the study examines nine cases in which police deployed firearms, to assess compliance with human rights standards in these jurisdictions. The use of live fire and Tasers by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, based on information from investigation reports published by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, provides a unique piece of research which indicates that policies have been amended in line with recommendations. The thesis traces the genealogy of international human rights principles, national laws and the particular police service policies and procedures which were in existence at the time of certain critical events and evaluates their development in response to lessons learned from subsequent investigations and inquiries. It examines the role played by the oversight mechanisms in place to hold police to account and discusses influences on police officers which could affect how they used firearms in addition to human rights considerations
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:695377 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Jeffrey, Patricia Joan |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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