Handcuffs and leg cuffs linked together by a long chain, designed to simultaneously restrict movement in more than one part of the body. This restriction can lead to secondary injuries if the restrained person falls. If the chain length joining the hand and leg restraints is too short in relation to the detainee’s height, it could cause the detainee to fall, causing other injuries, as well as forcing the detainee to stoop, which may be painful, as well as humiliating and degrading.
Combination cuffs can be used in torture or other ill-treatment, especially when they are used to restrain people in stress positions, such as a hog-tie.
The manufacture, trade, and use of combination cuffs should be carefully controlled and subject to robust standards to ensure they are not used to violate human rights.
*Note: occasionally, the leg cuffs in the combination cuffs are weighted. Use of weighted leg cuffs – including in linked cuffs – constitutes a prima facie violation of the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. The manufacture, trade, and use of combination cuffs featuring weighted leg cuffs for law enforcement should be prohibited.