In the PLAN framework, which principle requires police actions to be justified as necessary and not excessive?

In the PLAN framework, which principle requires police actions to be justified as necessary and not excessive?

• A. Necessary
• B. Proportionate
• C. Legal
• D. Accountable

Answer: (A)

Proportionality is the idea that police actions must fit the objective and not go beyond what is necessary to achieve it. In the PLAN framework, this means measures taken should be appropriate in scale and impact to the threat or goal, and if a less intrusive option could work, that option should be used. The phrase “necessary and not excessive” captures this balance: the action must be needed, but it also must not be more intrusive or forceful than required. The other concepts address different checks—whether something is legally permissible, whether there is accountability after the action, or whether the action is required at all—but only proportionality explicitly ties necessity to the limit on excess or intrusion.

Proportionality is the idea that police actions must fit the objective and not go beyond what is necessary to achieve it. In the PLAN framework, this means measures taken should be appropriate in scale and impact to the threat or goal, and if a less intrusive option could work, that option should be used. The phrase “necessary and not excessive” captures this balance: the action must be needed, but it also must not be more intrusive or forceful than required. The other concepts address different checks—whether something is legally permissible, whether there is accountability after the action, or whether the action is required at all—but only proportionality explicitly ties necessity to the limit on excess or intrusion.