Rules of the Use of Force (RUF)

Rules for the Use of Force are the graduated authorities that govern when and how law-enforcement officers and privately contracted armed guards may apply force, distinct from military Rules of Engagement. For embarked security teams countering piracy, the RUF set a continuum from visible deterrence and warning through aimed warning shots to disabling and, as a last resort, lethal force in self-defense or defense of others. They are framed around the inherent right of self-defense and the principle of proportionality.