Global Police Killings Undermine Public Trust, UN Expert Warns in New Report

Unlawful killings by law enforcement officials continue to plague countries across the world, severely undermining public confidence in institutions designed to protect citizens, according to a damning new report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz.

Presenting his findings, Tidball-Binz made an urgent appeal to governments to uphold the right to life by addressing the systemic failure to prevent, investigate, and prosecute unlawful killings. "Law enforcement plays a vital role in protecting the public and upholding the right to life," he stated. "Yet unlawful killings by police persist, often with impunity. States must do more to end these abuses, which violate the right to life and betray law enforcement's core mission."

A Call for Systemic Change in Policing Practices

The Special Rapporteur's report outlines a comprehensive framework of safeguards across the entire policing cycle. These include improvements in legislation, operational policy, incident reporting, and accountability mechanisms. Tidball-Binz stressed that aligning day-to-day policing practices with international human rights standards is not just a moral imperative but a legal obligation.

"Every potentially unlawful death requires an investigation that is prompt, effective, independent, and impartial," he said, referencing the UN Minnesota Protocol. This global standard sets out guidelines for the investigation of potentially unlawful deaths to ensure justice and accountability.

Independent Investigative Mechanisms: A Priority

Central to Tidball-Binz's recommendations is the creation of structurally and operationally independent investigative bodies. Such bodies must have the authority, capacity, and freedom to collect and preserve evidence, protect witnesses, and keep families informed. This independence is especially crucial in countries where law enforcement agencies are involved in both the use of force and its investigation.

The report also highlights the importance of robust medico-legal capabilities, transparency in data collection—especially disaggregated data on victims—and public communication to build trust.

No Excuses for Impunity

The Special Rapporteur was unequivocal in denouncing systemic barriers to accountability, such as immunity provisions, political interference, and the shielding of superior officers. "Removing systemic barriers to accountability is not optional – it is an indispensable obligation to uphold the rule of law," he said.

He also warned against the use of lethal force in routine operations. According to international legal principles, lethal force should be used only as a last resort and must meet the strict criteria of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination.

High-Risk Environments Require Stronger Safeguards

Tidball-Binz raised particular concern about high-risk contexts such as:

• Crowd control during protests

• Counter-terrorism and anti-drug operations

• States of emergency and militarised policing

• Custodial settings and border enforcement

In such situations, he noted that the combination of weak safeguards, polarising rhetoric, and insufficient oversight dramatically increases the risk of arbitrary killings and impunity.

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Groups

The report also draws attention to the disproportionate impact of police violence on marginalised communities, including ethnic minorities, migrants, people with disabilities, and the economically disadvantaged. It underlines that any effective reform must be inclusive and address these vulnerabilities directly.

Upholding the Right to Life Through Action

The UN expert concluded with a powerful reminder: "Impunity for unlawful killings by law enforcement is not inevitable—it is preventable when states match their commitments with concrete action."

Tidball-Binz urged nations to move beyond declarations and take tangible steps to implement human rights-based policing. Only by doing so, he argued, can governments restore public trust and fulfill their duty to uphold the most fundamental of all human rights: the right to life.