The P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code Developed By Sensei Liam Musiak – For Police Officers

As part of my drive to make martial arts and self-defence practical for the real world, I have developed the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code — a framework designed specifically for police officers. This code gives officers a simple, memorable set of principles to follow when dealing with conflict, violent situations, or arrests. It is not theoretical; it is built from practicality, ethics, and the legal responsibilities police face.

P = Positioning - Establish safe tactical positioning. Control space, keep distance where possible, and use cover. Correct positioning protects the officer and reduces the suspect’s chance of attack.

R = Risk Assessment - Continuously scan for threats — weapons, accomplices, escape routes, and bystanders. Situations change quickly, and officers must re-evaluate risks at every stage.

O = Order & Control - Take charge of the scene with clear, authoritative verbal commands. A strong presence and clear orders reduce confusion and show leadership to both colleagues and the public.

T = Teamwork - Policing is not done alone. Communicate with colleagues: share responsibility, coordinate roles, and work as one unit. Teamwork reduces mistakes and improves safety.

E = Ethical Force - Use only the minimum reasonable force necessary. Every action must stand up in court, in policy, and in public opinion. Ethical restraint builds trust while still allowing officers to stay safe.

C = Contain - Secure the suspect, weapon, or scene to prevent escalation. Containment is about stopping chaos before it spreads and ensuring public safety.

T = Transfer - Always move the incident into the correct legal or procedural stage: custody, medical support, or scene management. Transfer ensures continuity, accountability, and lawful closure.

The P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code ties directly into the ethos of policing — protecting the public, protecting colleagues, and protecting oneself. It gives officers a clear process to follow under pressure, balancing tactical awareness with ethics and legality. Like my other codes (A.A.E.E.L., V.E.R.B.A.L., F.I.G.H.T., and S.T.A.N.D.), it is designed to be simple to remember yet powerful in action.

Applying the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code in a Knife Attack Situation

Scenario: A criminal has just attacked an individual with a kitchen knife. The victim is unconscious and bleeding heavily on the ground. The suspect still has the knife in hand.

P = Positioning

Do not rush blindly to the victim.

Immediately establish safe tactical positioning between the attacker and the victim to prevent further harm.

Maintain distance from the knife while ensuring you can still intervene quickly.

R = Risk Assessment

Identify immediate risks: the knife in the attacker’s hand, the critical condition of the victim, possible further attacks.

Scan for secondary threats: accomplices, other weapons, or hazards in the environment.

Reassess continually as the situation develops.

O = Order & Control

Issue clear, authoritative commands to the suspect: “Drop the knife! Step back! Get down now!”

Use your voice to dominate the situation and create an opportunity for compliance.

Keep commands short and simple, ensuring both the suspect and any bystanders understand.

T = Teamwork

If other officers are present, assign roles quickly: one officer controls communication with the suspect, one prepares to intervene, one secures the victim.

Coordinate movements to avoid crossfire or confusion.

If alone, focus on maintaining verbal control until backup arrives, while keeping the suspect away from the victim.

E = Ethical Force

If the suspect refuses to drop the knife and poses an imminent threat, use controlled, proportionate force to disarm and restrain.

Apply only the minimum necessary to neutralise the danger.

Remember: the priority is stopping further harm, not punishment.

C = Contain

Once the suspect is disarmed, secure the weapon and handcuff the individual immediately.

Maintain control of the crime scene, preventing interference from bystanders.

Ensure no further threat exists before shifting attention fully to the victim.

T = Transfer

Transfer the suspect into custody safely for evidence processing.

Transfer care of the victim to paramedics as soon as they arrive, providing accurate details of the injury and situation.

Ensure continuity of evidence: knife secured, statements prepared, and incident fully documented.

👉 This instructional format shows officers exactly how to apply each stage of P.R.O.T.E.C.T. to a high-risk knife scenario, balancing victim protection, suspect control, and public safety.

The P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code, which I developed specifically for police officers, is designed to function as a universal framework that can be applied to almost any situation an officer may face, from violent knife attacks to routine arrests, from domestic disturbances to public order incidents. Its strength is that it is simple, memorable, and flexible, meaning officers can recall and apply it under pressure without hesitation. The first principle, Positioning, reminds officers that controlling distance, angles, and space is the foundation of safety, whether facing an armed criminal, separating two fighting individuals, or approaching a potentially hostile vehicle stop. Once positioning is secured, officers must engage in Risk Assessment, constantly scanning for weapons, accomplices, escape routes, or environmental hazards that could escalate the encounter or put the public at risk, and this reassessment must continue throughout the incident, as threats evolve quickly. With risks identified, the officer must establish Order & Control, using calm but authoritative verbal commands to dominate the situation and set clear expectations for behaviour, because strong voice control often prevents escalation and reassures both victims and bystanders that order is being restored. If other officers are present, Teamwork becomes the next vital step, ensuring roles are assigned quickly—one officer giving commands, another securing suspects, another managing the crowd or helping victims—because coordination prevents confusion and mistakes, and if alone, the officer must still act with teamwork in mind, preparing for backup and managing the scene until help arrives. Where force becomes necessary, the principle of Ethical Force guides decisions, ensuring officers use only the minimum level required to neutralise the threat and always in a way that can withstand scrutiny in court, in policy, and in the eyes of the community, protecting integrity while maintaining safety. Once the immediate threat is under control, Contain directs officers to secure the suspect, the weapon, and the scene itself, stopping the spread of chaos and ensuring no further harm can be done to victims, bystanders, or colleagues; this could mean handcuffing a suspect, clearing bystanders away, or establishing a perimeter around a crime scene. Finally, Transfer ensures that every situation is lawfully and professionally closed by moving it into the correct next stage, whether handing the suspect into custody, transferring the victim to medical support, or preserving the scene for investigators, because continuity of care and legality are just as important as the immediate intervention itself. What makes the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code effective is that it applies equally to all policing scenarios: in a knife attack it guides officers to stop further harm to the victim and disarm the suspect quickly and safely; in a domestic dispute it ensures officers approach with awareness, control, and restraint while protecting vulnerable individuals; in a public brawl it enables fast teamwork to contain the chaos, protect the public, and transfer offenders into custody without unnecessary harm. From the first step of positioning to the final act of lawful transfer, the code provides a clear mental checklist that anchors officers under stress and gives them a process to rely on when instinct and adrenaline could otherwise take over. It balances tactical awareness, ethical responsibility, and public safety, ensuring that police can act decisively while staying within the boundaries of the law. In essence, the P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Code is not limited to one type of threat—it is a framework designed to protect everyone involved: the officer, the victim, the public, and even the suspect, and that universality is what makes it powerful, practical, and necessary in modern policing.